Kansas Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

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Location	Wichita Boat House, 515 South Wichita Street, Wichita, Kansas 67202

Barry Sanders, one of Kansas' most famous athletes.

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a special museum in Wichita, Kansas. It's all about celebrating the amazing history of sports in Kansas. The museum shows off exhibits, old records, and activities to honor people and teams. These are the athletes and teams who achieved great things in sports. They brought pride to themselves, their towns, and the whole state of Kansas!

History of the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame started in 1961. This was part of Kansas's 100th birthday celebration. Over the years, the museum has been in a few different places. Today, it is located in Wichita. The museum gets money to run from donations, ticket sales, and its gift shop. It also hosts special events.

The museum is about 27,000 square feet. That's a lot of space! It's a fun place for families to visit. You can also use the Hall for special events, parties, or meetings.

In 2009, the museum announced some big changes. They created the Kansas Sports Museum in Newton, Kansas. The Hall of Fame also decided to move its main location. It moved from 238 N. Mead to the Wichita Boathouse. This move helped save money. It also allowed them to display the America³ yacht. This yacht won the America's Cup in 1992. The new museum in Newton is 21,000 square feet. It holds many exhibits and items that the Wichita location doesn't have room for.

What You'll Discover at the Museum

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame has many exciting exhibits. You can learn about famous athletes and teams from Kansas. Let's explore some of the sports you'll find!

Basketball Exhibits

The first basketball team at the University of Kansas in 1899. Coach James Naismith is on the far right.

Kansas is often called the "Cradle of Basketball." This is because James Naismith, who invented basketball, taught here. He is a very important part of this museum area. You'll also see displays about legendary coaches. These include Phog Allen, Adolph Rupp, and Dean Smith.

The museum shows off NBA and NCAA Basketball jerseys. You can also see balls, trophies, and plaques. There are highlights from Kansas high school basketball too. You'll learn about famous high school teams. These include Dwight, McPherson, and Wichita South.

The museum also honors women's basketball stars. You can see photos and items from players like Lynette Woodard and Jackie Stiles.

Football Exhibits

An early 20th century photo of Garfield Weede. He was one of the first members of the Hall of Fame in 1961.

In the football area, you'll find jerseys, helmets, and balls. There are also All-American awards. These were won by Kansas players like John Hadl and Lynn Dickey. You'll also see items from Pro Football Hall of Fame members. These include Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders.

The museum displays The Governor's Cup. This trophy is given each year to the winner of the Kansas State University vs. University of Kansas game. There is also a special tribute to the Wildcats football team. It shows their success under Coach Bill Snyder.

You can also learn about Kansas's small college football history. This includes teams like Pittsburg State. The museum also has colorful exhibits about high school football. You'll see items from famous high school teams. These include Lawrence and Smith Center.

Baseball Exhibits

The baseball gallery features legendary Kansas stars. These include Baseball Hall of Fame members Walter Johnson and Joe Tinker. You'll see photos and items from the great Wichita State Shocker program. This team was coached by Gene Stephenson. Famous players from this team include Joe Carter and Darren Dreifort.

The museum also has old photos and items. Some are even signed by famous players like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Kansas City Royals star George Brett was added to the Hall of Fame in 2017.

You can also see the Coleman Company/Johnny Bench Award. This award is given each year to the best college catcher. The museum also displays items from many other Kansas baseball legends. These include Hap Dumont and George Brett.

Track and Field Exhibits

The track and field gallery shows why Kansas is known for its track and Olympic stars. You can see two Olympic gold medals! There are also shoes worn by world record holders. These include Jim Ryun and Wes Santee.

Olympic champions like Billy Mills and Maurice Greene are also featured. You can see a high jump bar set at 7 feet, 4 ½ inches. This was the Kansas high school record set in 1984. The museum also has hundreds of photos of Kansas high school and college track stars.

Hall of Fame Inductees

People who are chosen for the Hall of Fame are called "inductees." They are honored for their amazing achievements in sports. As of 2018, there are 286 individuals in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. New members are added each fall. Here is a partial list of some of the famous Hall of Famers: