Newport Sports Museum facts for kids
The Newport Sports Museum was a special place in Newport Beach, California, USA, that celebrated the world of sports. It was like a treasure chest filled with amazing items from famous athletes and historic games. The museum closed its doors in 2014.
What Was Inside the Museum?
The Newport Sports Museum had a huge collection of over 10,000 sports items. Imagine seeing things from your favorite sports like football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and golf! There was even a special section dedicated to the Olympic Games.
Some of the most exciting items included:
- A baseball signed by the legendary Babe Ruth, which was the ball from his very last home run!
- The puck from Wayne Gretzky's 900th goal, a huge achievement for the hockey superstar.
- The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy, a famous award.
- Hundreds of jerseys worn by athletes during games, many of them signed by the players themselves.
How the Museum Started
The story of the Newport Sports Museum began in 1953 with a young boy named John W. Hamilton. When he was just 12 years old, he received a signed football from the Look All-American Football Team. This gift sparked a passion in him, and he started collecting sports items.
Over many years, John Hamilton built one of the biggest collections of sports memorabilia ever seen. In 1995, he teamed up with several athletes to open the museum. His amazing collection was put on display in an office building in Newport Center.
Why the Museum Closed
In April 2014, John Hamilton announced that the museum would be closing. He mentioned that keeping the museum running was becoming difficult.
