National Ski Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids National Ski Hall of Fame
The building is shaped like a ski jump!
General information
Coordinates	46°30′11″N 87°39′56″W / 46.503°N 87.6655°W / 46.503; -87.6655

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum is a special place that honors the greatest skiers and snowboarders in American history. It's located in Ishpeming, Michigan, which is known as the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States.

The building itself is very cool and is shaped to look like a ski jump. Inside, you can find the Hall of Fame, a museum full of interesting exhibits, a theater, a library, and a gift shop. The current building opened in 1992 and holds a huge collection of skiing history.

History of the Hall of Fame

A view of the front of the Hall of Fame building.

The story of the Hall of Fame begins in Ishpeming way back in 1905. That year, several ski clubs from different cities met and formed the National Ski Association. Today, this group is known as U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

The founder of the Ishpeming Ski Club, Carl Tellefsen, was chosen as the first president of the association. Because he was so important to the sport, he was one of the first four people to be honored in the Hall of Fame in 1957.

The Roland Palmedo Memorial Library

Inside the museum is one of the largest ski libraries in the country, named after Roland Palmedo. For over 50 years, Palmedo was a "ski-sport builder," which means he helped skiing grow in America.

He helped start the National Ski Patrol to keep skiers safe on the slopes. He also created programs to train ski teachers and helped organize many early ski teams. Palmedo even founded the Mad River Glen ski area. He loved skiing so much that he collected a huge library of ski books. After he passed away, his family donated the books to the museum, creating the amazing library that exists today.

Who is in the Hall of Fame?

The Hall of Fame honors incredible athletes and people who have made a big difference in the world of skiing and snowboarding. Below is a list of some of the famous members and the year they were welcomed into the Hall of Fame.