Whether it’s standing in the glorious bask of Babe Ruth’s own gear or peering down at one of the fi rst civil rights petitions, New York’s halls of fame offer unique and memorable opportunities. New York state is home to 20 halls of fame. From the little guys to the big guys, halls of fame are a great way to have fun and learn. Many of these halls not only offer artifacts, they also offer interactive exhibits, family and group activities and other special events.

For a complete listing of New York’s halls of fame visit www.iloveny.state.ny.us/search/attractions_index. asp.

Four of the most prominent halls of fame in the state are the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum
Address: 18 Stadium Circle Oneonta, NY 13820
Phone: (607) 432-3351
Web: www.soccerhall.org
Founded: 1983 (officially, first exhibit in 1979)
Directions: I-88 to Exit 25 to Route 205N go through two traffic lights and take a left onto Browne St. Turn left onto the campus.
Induction weekend: Aug. 28 Visitors are greeted by a larger than- life soccer ball exploding out of a wall. The hall honors soccer players who at one time played for America. Besides offering traditional exhibits the museum also boasts four full-sized soccer fi elds where everyone from children to the pros can play in events. The hall also plays host to birthday parties, receptions, meetings, dinners and the like. Much of the museum is interac- tive with things such as rate your kicks, speed dribbling, heading on target and video games. Footage of old and new games is shown throughout the museum. Tournaments are held throughout the summer for people of all ages. The hall is open year round with the exception of three holidays.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Address: 25 Main St. Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME
Web: baseballhalloffame.org
Founded: 1939
Directions: Take I-90 east to Exit 30 at Herkimer. Take Route 28 south to Cooperstown
Induction weekend: July 28-31 The Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, the designated birthplace of baseball in 1839. The fi rst class was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936. This attraction honors players, managers, umpires and executives in baseball. The hall also pays tribute to women and international players. About 1,000 programming events are held each year. There are daily events for children. Over half of the museum is interactive in some way and audio and video trivia is offered throughout the museum.

Each year a hall of fame game is held with living hall of famers as the players. The museum also plays host to theatrical, art and music events. The museum is open year round except for three holidays.

National Women’s Hall of Fame
Address: 76 Fall St. Seneca Falls, NY 13148
Phone: (315) 568-8060
Web: www.greatwomen.org
Founded: 1969
Directions: Take Exit 41 to Route 414 south. Turn left on Rts. 5 and 20 to Seneca Falls. 5 & 20 become Fall St. Follow Fall St. to downtown Seneca Falls.
Induction weekend: Oct. 5-6, 2007 Seneca Falls is renowned for being the birthplace of the women’s rights movement. Every two years women are inducted into the hall of fame in eight categories. Thus far the museum has 217 inductees. The induction ceremony is widely attended with over one thousand visitors.

The hall is dedicated to the achievements of American women. There is also a research library on hte premises, with more than 3,000 volumes.

The museum not only highlights women but also the abolitionist movement and offers a lot of history on the civil rights movement. Although there are women’s halls of fame in 30 states, the only national hall of fame is right here in New York.

International Boxing Hall of Fame
Address: 1 Hall of Fame Drive Canastota, NY 13032
Phone: (315) 697-7095
Web: www.ibhof.com Founded: 1989
Directions: Take Exit 34 off the New York State Thruway (I-90).
Induction weekend: June 8-11 This hall of fame is located in Canastota because the long history of boxing in the area. Canastota was a boxing hotspot in the late 1800s and featured plenty of bare-knuckled boxing. The city is also home to two world-boxing champs, Carmen Basito and Billy Backus.

The museum welcomes people of all ages to learn about the sport of boxing. Throughout the museum there are memorabilia and videos highlighting historical fi ght footage. Also featured throughout the museum are interactive phones that tell various stories of boxing throughout history. The museum offers group packages to children’s groups and others.

The hall-of-fame weekend will welcome about 50 boxing greats and feature over 20 events.