Exploring the Legacy: Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio
- Lynn Abbey
- Jun 3, 2024
- 2 min read
Just an hour’s drive south of Cleveland is Canton, Ohio. With almost 70,000 inhabitants, it’s a small midwestern city and home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Over the past couple of years, there has been considerable development of the property surrounding the museum itself, and it’s amazing to step onto a professional-quality turf field for a ground-level photo op. There are also many football-themed shops and restaurants on the ring road around the stadium and museum, so if one of your football faves is a budding restauranteur, chances are he has a location in Canton!
The museum itself is well organized, with a floorplan that makes the visit an easy one. That’s a good thing because general admission is $45 USD, although there is a $15 USD walkup seniors’ special every Tuesday. Starting with the film “A Game for Life”, featuring holograms and video footage, it was obvious that this museum would provide a quality experience. Displays of the first 100 years of professional football and an excellent interactive area featuring the Black College Football Hall of Fame enhance the tourist’s understanding of the development of the game and the importance of the opportunities football offers for young players from their tyke years right up through the NFL Draft. It was also fun to explore other fact inspired displays like placing a hand on a relief model of famous NFLers’ huge handprints or standing inside a cut-out of Jerome Bettis’ leg!
Of course, the most impressive gallery is the Hall of Fame itself with plaques and a bronze bust of each inductee. Reading about the dedication and commitment each player took to make it as a Hall of Famer is truly inspirational, especially since many of the players came from situations filled with adversity. At the doorway to the gallery is an interesting interactive feature “Ask a Docent” where visitors connect with online guides who can answer any questions about the Hall of Fame and the NFL in general. During our visit, the Docent on Duty was a man from London, England who knew virtually everything about football! After a lively online conversation about Dave’s beloved Buffalo Bills, we were ready to finish our visit in the very well-stocked Museum Shop.
While Dave has been a lifelong football player (from high school through university, and coach, and (die-hard) Buffalo Bills fan, I am more football-adjacent. Sure, I’ve attended games at all levels, but usually just as Dave’s sidekick when he couldn’t find better or more knowledgeable company. That said, I fully enjoyed every minute at Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame and recommend it heartily as a great experience!
Safe Travels
Lynn
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