12 Sports Museums in Michigan Celebrating Athletes’ Success

From baseball, hockey, and basketball to football and auto racing, Michiganders of all ages are diehard sports fans who aren’t shy about showing their passion. Some of the best places to stoke that passion are the many sports museums in Michigan.

From county halls of fame to state halls of fame to national shrines for non-traditional sports, Michigan offers a little bit of everything in the way of sports museums. Visitors of all ages can learn about Michigan history greats, see memorabilia from the past, and gain an appreciation for Michigan sports greats of yesteryear.

Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

Organized in 1955, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is committed to preserving the state’s rich sports history through the stories of its legendary coaches, athletes, and many contributors.

Since its first induction ceremony in 1955, the Hall of Fame has inducted dozens of iconic Michigan figures including Barry Sanders, Steve Yzerman, Joe Dumars, Ernie Harwell, Bo Schembecher, Ty Cobb, Gordie Howe, Tom Izzo, and Kirk Gibson.

NOTE: Plaques honoring inductees were previously on display at Cobo Hall until 2013. Items from the Hall of Fame archives are put on display during the Hall’s annual induction ceremony and some items are on loan to Michigan’s pro sports franchises and state universities.

National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame

2975 E Maple Rd, Troy, MI 48083

The NPASHF was founded in 1973 to recognize the accomplishments of professional and amateur athletes of Polish descent.

More than 150 athletes have been inducted and visitors to the American Polish Cultural Center can see one-of-a-kind historical artifacts for free.

Visitors can see a Hall of Fame-worthy collection of artifacts from Stan “The Man” Musial as well as displays from Vince Lombardi, Alan Trammell, Alan Kulwicki, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, and dozens of others.

The center also includes a restaurant, Wawel Royal Castle Polish Bar and Restaurant so visitors can enjoy delicious Polish food while they’re there.

Towsley Museum

1200 State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109

NOTE: Towsley Museum is currently closed to the public

Inside Schembbechler Hall on the University of Michigan campus is a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the Maize and Blue football program.

Visitors (be they U of M fans or not) can see retired jerseys of eight Michigan football greats and the Win Wall, which has footballs marking each of Michigan’s wins.

The museum also features interactive displays, including a video touch screen that tells the story of Michigan Stadium. Historic artifacts on display relate stories of Michigan’s All-America honorees and bowl and championship history.

MSU Athletics Hall of Fame

804 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48825

The Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center on the Michigan State University campus houses a shrine to MSU Spartan greats of the past.

Visitors can follow a reader rail around the Hall that highlights dozens of signature MSU athletic moments. Nearly five dozen plaques feature Hall inductees and nearly a dozen wall murals feature some of MSU’s key athletic figures including Magic Johnson, Kirk Gibson, “Bubba” Smith, and Duffy Daugherty.

The Hall also includes kiosks highlighting key figures and moments in MSU athletic history, mounted photos, and double-sided banners representing MSU’s varsity sports.

Value of Sports Museum

1687 South Lakeshore Drive, Ludington, MI 49431

The Historic White Pine Village in Ludington offers visitors a tour bursting at the seams with living history. That village complex includes the Value of Sports Museum.

The museum goes behind gameplay and the final score by highlighting the importance of sports to develop character in those who participate.

The museum features kiosks and exhibits that tell the stories of local folks and well-known athletes who have found success in sports and life, ultimately serving as role models and examples of the value of finding life lessons in sports.

Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation

6632 Telegraph Rd #304, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the achievements of Jewish athletes in Michigan. The Foundation’s annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner honors the achievements of athletes from Michigan or with a Michigan connection.

The Hall of Fame boasts over 100 plaques of notable sports figures, including Hank Greenberg, Bill Davidson, and Jackie Kallen. Plaques honoring Alvin Foon Award recipients include Mike llitch, Ernie Harwell, and Bo Schembechler.

The Hall of Fame also honors the Jewish News High School Athletes of the Year, The Dr. Steven and Evelyn Rosen Stars of Tomorrow Scholars, and the Bill Hertz Memorial Scholarship winners.

Michigan Golf Hall of Fame

1003 Perry Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Inside the Ken Janke Sr. Golf Learning Center on the campus of Ferris State University, visitors can find the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.

The Hall’s formation dates back to the 1980s and honors those who made golfing popular in Michigan as well as nationally. Inductees include Walter Hagen, Mary Fossum, and dozens of others who have left their mark on Michigan golf.

The Hall of Fame display includes an impressive collection of artifacts, clubs (including several used in notable tournaments), and memorabilia. Many of these items rotate through the displays, offering a fascinating look at the history of golfing in the Great Lakes State.

US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

610 Palms Ave, Ishpeming, MI 49849

The US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame honors the athletic prowess and success of Americans in skiing, and snowboarding.

Ishpeming is the birthplace of organized skiing and local businessmen took steps to organize the National Skiing Association more than a century ago.

This National Hall of Fame has honored more than 400 members, creating a rich and diverse collection of accomplished athletes. Inductees include well-known Olympians Picabo Street, Bode Miller, and dozens of others. The Hall features plenty of inductee artifacts, but visitors can also trace the history and heritage of US skiing here.

Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame

N3332 Pine Mountain Rd, Iron Mountain, MI 49801

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has seen more than its fair share of talented athletes and dreams to honor them came true in 1972 with the Hall’s first induction dinner.

The Hall of Fame is currently housed inside Famers Restaurant at the Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain. Inductees include George “The Gipper” Gipp, longtime Michigan Tech hockey coach John MacInnes, Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, and many others.

Visitors can enjoy a tasty meal at Famers and take time to look at the many displays around the restaurant.

Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame

500 Federal Ave, Saginaw, MI 48607

Established in 2002, the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame honors a diverse collection of mid-Michigan’s all-time best in athletics. Inductees include Jason Richardson, Charles Rogers, LaMarr Woodley, Mark Macon, and scores of honorees from an eclectic mix of sports.

The Hall of Fame can be found within The Castle Museum, a spectacular tourist attraction in its own right that’s one of the best spots to learn about the history of Saginaw County.

Visitors to the Hall of Fame displays at The Castle Museum can take a trip back in time as they gaze upon jerseys, programs, trophies, equipment, and other sports memorabilia from Saginaw County sports greats.

Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame

333 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Inaugurated on the Fourth of July 1976, the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes from one of the state’s most talent-rich areas.

Inductees include Jim Brandstatter, Charlie Gehringer, Magic Johnson, members of Lansing’s famous Miller hockey family, and John Smoltz.

The Hall of Fame is housed at the Lansing Center and visitors can see a diverse collection of athletes and learn their stories through memorabilia, photographs, and other displays,

Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame

Visitors to West Michigan can find this museum on the ground floor of the Trinity Health Arena.

This museum features a fascinating collection of photos, commemorative plaques, and artifacts that honor the best athletes ever along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Inductees include Michigan football legend Bennie Oosterbaan, Olympic boxer Phil Baldwin, and Super Bowl quarterback Earl Morrall. In addition to traditional sports, the Hall features a diverse collection of honorees including skating, boxing, and Pan-American Games participants.

Other Places to Discover Michigan Sports History

If you’re a sports fan who loves history on any level, odds are you don’t need to look far to find it in Michigan.

In addition to the museums listed above, more Michigan sports can be found at high schools and in county halls of fame.

Here are a few other spots to find snippets of Michigan sports history.

• Michigan’s sports arenas in Detroit – Comerica Park, Little Caesars, and Ford Field – are filled with the history of Michigan’s pro sports teams. That history can often be found in colorful displays around the concourse of the respective venues.
• Besides U of M and MSU, many Michigan colleges also have their own athletic Halls of Fame on campus.
• The Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids honors the former US President, who excelled in numerous sports and played football at the University of Michigan. The museum includes a collection of footballs reflecting his playing days, his coaching career, and others sent as gifts.
• The Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame is housed in Van Andel Arena.
• The MotorCities Heritage Area is a nationally designated area that commemorates the auto industry in and around Detroit. The area includes sights such as the Henry Ford Museum, the Automotive Hall of Fame, and other sites with sports-related displays.
• The Michigan Disc Golf Hall of Fame honors those who have helped Michigan a disc golf destination.

Visit One of Michigan’s Many Sports Museums

No matter if you’re the most passionate sports fan or you’re more of a casual observer, sports museums in Michigan have something that appeals to every visitor. No matter which Hall of Fame you visit, they tell dozens and dozens of stories of people who left their mark in some way.

These museums are undoubtedly shrines to the accomplishments and abilities of athletes from a diverse mix of backgrounds. But they are also shrines to Michigan history, preserving important artifacts and memorabilia for future generations to enjoy.