After four years of planning, fundraising and construction the National Mascot Hall of Fame will open its doors to the public Dec. 26.
What began as an online only shrine to honor the country’s sports mascots, now is a 25,000 square-foot facility at Front and 119th streets near Lakefront Park in Whiting. The interactive museum’s assorted amenities include educational exhibits that emphasize technology, engineering, science, art and mathematics.
There has been much community support for the mascot hall of fame. The Schrage family and Centier Bank earlier this year committed to a $250,000 founding partner sponsorship of the attraction.
The hall of fame is hosting a Media Days event Dec. 20-22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, specifically for news, marketing, social media, and PR related industry professionals, as well as school administrators and teachers. Hall of fame staff will be on site to answer questions about the attraction.
The site’s exhibit areas were designed by Cincinnati-based Jack Rouse Associates, which has designed world-class family museums and attractions including the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta, the Crayola Experience in Pennsylvania, and the Green Bay Packers' Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame will host year-round events, which celebrate mascot fun for members and visitors. Annual mascot inductions will take place for professional and collegiate mascots who complete the application process, qualify for induction, and get voted into the hall of fame.
