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 on the campus of 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 Crimson Tide football, with a special focus on the famous coach, Paul William "Bear" Bryant.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum came from Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant himself. In 1981, he suggested creating a museum. This museum would honor the coaches and players who helped him set a record for the most wins in college football. A group was formed to plan the museum.
They decided the museum would have two main goals. First, it would cover the entire history of Alabama football, starting from the very first team in 1892. Second, it would collect important items for its exhibits. About one-third of everything in the museum is about Coach Bryant.
Growing Over the Years
Since it began in 1985, the museum has grown a lot. It has more staff, offers more services, and has new exhibits. It has become a key place for writers and reporters. They visit to learn about the history of sports at the university.
Besides collecting items, the museum also 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.
The museum was first part of the University of Alabama Museums system. But as it grew, it became its own unit. Now, it reports directly to the university's vice president. This shows how important the museum has become.
Record Attendance Day
On April 21, 2007, the museum had its busiest day ever. A total of 4,367 people visited. This happened on the same day as the school's annual A-Day football game. That game also set a record, with 92,138 fans watching.
The Paul W. 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 at the Museum
Special Items on Display
The museum has many interesting exhibits. One unique item is a Waterford Crystal houndstooth hat. This hat celebrates the famous hat Coach Bryant always wore. You can also see the original painting by Daniel Moore. This painting was used to create a 32-cent U.S. postage stamp honoring Coach Bryant.
The museum also displays the traveling Associated Press Trophy. This trophy was given out from 1957 to 1965. Alabama earned permanent ownership of this national championship trophy. They won it for the third time in 1965.
Research and Videos
The museum has a special research room. Here, you can watch and study videos of all of Alabama's football games. This includes wins, losses, and even tough games. Museum officials say they have over 1,000 such videos.
The "Bryant Namesakes"
The museum keeps a list of people who were 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.
The oldest namesake (besides Coach Bryant's son, Paul Bryant, Jr.) is Bryant Darrell Brown. His father, Darrell Brown, was a "Junction Survivor" player. Darrell Brown's grandson, Bryant Andrew Brown, is also a second-generation Bryant namesake. This long list shows how much many people in Alabama admired Coach Bryant.
See also
- Walk of Champions (University of Alabama)
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
