Hall of Fame Museums

The first comprehensive overview of hall of fame museums and exhibits, this work traces the history, examines and compares the facilities, exhibits, and operations, and describes 274 halls of fame in over 100 fields in the United States and 10 other countries. The information is based on recently compiled surveys. More than half of the museums and exhibits are in the area of sports, but others range from aviation and space to cockroaches. Of interest to high school, college, university, and public libraries for their popular culture/travel reference shelves. A great source for vacations, each entry provides the address, telephone number, hours, and admission fees as well as content, operations, and more.The hall of fame movement began in Europe several centuries ago with memorials to national heroes and other illustrious persons. But it was not until the 20th century that the contemporary hall of fame movement honoring outstanding achievers in particular fields received its impetus and attained its greatest success in the United States. Other countries covered in the book include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore. Not all halls of fame are in museums. Other places include civic centers, sports arenas, government buildings, universities, and racetracks.

?[T]he need for a sober, informative guide to all types of halls of fame has been evident. Danilov's book fulfills that need.?-Rettig on Reference, ?Compared to Doug Gelbert's Sport's Hall of Fame, this directory is significantly broader in scope and richer in its resources. Readers will find useful and interesting information that helps define the heroism and popularity at various times in society. Hall of Fame Museums is recommended for both public and college libraries.?-ARBA, ?Danilov's opening five-chapter essay on halls of fame is a welcome and unique feature....As a directory, Hall of Fame museums is well-done and fills a niche.?-Reference and User Services Quarterly, ?Since the first European memorials centuries ago, halls of fame have steadily gained popularity, and they have sprung up in museums, civic centers, sports arenas, government buildings, and universities around the world. Danilov profiles 274 halls of fame in 11 countries. Entries provide address, phone number, hours, fees, a brief history, and a description of contents. A geographical guide and lengthy introductory chapters chronicling the history and development of the hall of fame make this an exhaustive reference on a subject not covered in traditional museum directories. Highly recommended to supplement museum and travel directories in public and academic library collections.?- Library Journal, ?The more unusual Halls of Fame make this work interesting to browse. Travelers who like to visit Halls of Fame or who have an interest such as quilting might like to visit one of these sites. Sports fans in particular may be interested in planning trips to visit these locations. The same is true of fans who might want to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or the Country Music Hall of Fame. The directory section enables interested persons to write the appropriate Hall of Fame for information about individuals or activities. This type of reference guide would be useful in public and school libraries.?-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

VICTOR J. DANILOV is Director of the Museum Management Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dr. Danilov was president and director of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry for fifteen years. He is author of 18 books including University and College Museums, Galleries, and Related Facilities (1996), Museum Careers and Training: A Professional Guide (1994), A Planning Guide for Corporate Museums, Galleries, and Visitor Centers (1992), Corporate Museums, Galleries, and Visitor Centers: A Directory (1991), and America's Science Museums (1990), all from Greenwood Press.