8 great halls of fame across the U.S.

The nation’s first hall of fame opened in 1901 on what is now New York’s Bronx Community College to honor “great Americans” with bronze statues. More than a century later, specialized halls of fame across the U.S. enshrine the extraordinary in all facets of life, from NASCAR and country music to mascots and pinball machines. Mapped here are eight halls where you can stand in awe of greatness.

Seattle: Within Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, this hall celebrates a galaxy of sci-fi writers, artists, and filmmakers. Out-of-this-world memorabilia range from Isaac Asimov’s typewriter to movie costumes to props such as Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from The Empire Strikes Back.

Las Vegas: In 2021, this monument to flippers, bumpers, and silver balls moved to spacious new digs on the Las Vegas Strip. Every pinball machine is playable, so drop a coin into a classic like the Captain Fantastic table or the ultra-rare Pinball Circus.

Fort Worth, Texas: Step aside, Buffalo Bill, and make way for the legendary ladies who’ve helped define the American West. Annie Oakley, Dale Evans, and even country music star Miranda Lambert are among the more than 200 pioneers honored in this Fort Worth hall packed with sparkly rodeo costumes.

Nashville, Tennessee: Rhinestone suits, big shiny cars, fiddles, and guitars—you’ll see ’em all in this collection of country music artifacts. Bronze plaques honoring the hall’s 139 inductees—from Hank to Dolly—line the Nashville museum’s rotunda.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Pay respect to left-hand-turn icons like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt in Charlotte’s sleek Hall of Honor. Ogle an impressive collection of classic stock cars, then slide behind the wheel of a high-tech race-car simulator.

Cooperstown, New York: Pete Rose may not be able to get into hardball Valhalla, but you can. In Cooperstown’s hallowed Plaque Gallery, bronze plaques immortalize the game’s greats—from Jackie Robinson to, after the September 8 ceremony, new inductee Derek Jeter.

Whiting, Indiana: Costumed sports-team mascots—from the furry Phillie Phanatic to the Phoenix Suns’ Gorilla—are loved and hated by fans. Kids, in particular, flip for this fun interactive museum in Whiting that even includes a mascot-themed Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Cleveland: Rocking the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, the I.M. Pei–designed hall spotlights more than 300 inductees with a trove of memorabilia, including Jimi Hendrix’s Stratocaster. Through September, revisit 55 years of Super Bowl halftime performances at the exhibit “The Biggest Show on Turf.”