Paul W. Bryant Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Visitors | 35,000 |
The Paul W. Bryant Museum is a special place located at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was started in 1985 and opened its doors in 1988. The museum tells the amazing story of Alabama football, with a big focus on the famous coach, Bear Bryant.
The Museum's Story
The idea for the museum came from former head football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant himself. In 1981, he suggested creating a museum. This museum would honor the coaches and players who helped him achieve so many victories.
A committee was formed to plan the museum. They decided the museum would have two main goals. First, it would include the entire history of Alabama football, starting from the very first team in 1892. Second, it would build a collection of important items. About one-third of the museum's collection is about Coach Bryant.
Since it began in 1985, the museum has grown a lot. It has more staff, offers more services, and features more exhibits. It has become a key source of information for writers and journalists. They often look for details about the university's sports history here.
Besides collecting items, the museum now focuses on public programs. These include educational services and tours for school groups. Support from the University of Alabama and local communities has made the museum a popular attraction in the area.
On April 21, 2007, the museum had its busiest day ever. A total of 4,367 people visited. This happened during the school's annual A-Day football game. That game also set a record with 92,138 fans attending.
The Bryant Museum is part of a larger group called the University of Alabama Museums. This group also includes places like the University of Alabama Arboretum and the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
What You Can See
The museum has many interesting exhibits. One special item is a Waterford Crystal houndstooth hat. This hat honors Coach Bryant's famous headwear. You can also see the original painting by Daniel Moore. This painting was used to create a 32-cent U.S. postage stamp celebrating Coach Bryant's life.
The museum also displays the traveling Associated Press Trophy. This trophy was awarded from 1957 to 1965. Alabama gained permanent ownership of this national championship trophy. They won it for the third time in 1965.
There is also a research room at the museum. Here, you can watch and study videos of all of Alabama's games. This includes wins, losses, and even tough moments. Officials say they have over 1,000 such videos.
The museum also keeps a list of people named after Coach Bryant. Many of his former players and fans named their children Bryant, Paul, Bear, or even Paula. Every September, the Paul W. Bryant Museum hosts a reunion for these "namesakes." More than 600 people named after Coach Bryant have attended this yearly event. This shows how much people admired him.
See also
- Walk of Champions (University of Alabama)
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
