19 hall-of-fame museums in the works

As I’ve noted previously, there are over 140 physical halls of fame in North America. Some of the smaller ones are on shaky ground financially and others have closed up shop.
Among the halls that have closed are the Criminals Hall of Fame Wax Museum in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; and the Barbie Hall of Fame in Palo Alto, Calif.
Still others are being relocated. For instance, the Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum is being moved from Dania Beach, Fla., to Springfield, Mo. It will become part of America’s Wildlife Museum and Aquarium, set to open in mid-2016.
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America recently moved to the Daytona International Speedway.
But many more halls of fame are in the works. Some are close to completion. Others are still a dream.
What follows are some of the music, sports and other organizations that would like to open physical halls of fame.

Hip Hop Hall of Fame and Museum

Organizers of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame and Museum announced in September that they were securing ownership of a museum building in Harlem and planned to open in late 2016.
“The Harlem Hip Hop Museum will feature a Hall of Fame, Museum, Retail Gift Shop, Restaurant, Sports Bar, Concert Lounge, TV Studios, Offices, and house the Hip Hop Arts Academy,” the group said in a press release.

Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Museum

The Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Museum has been discussed for years. Most recently Detroit has been talked about as a possible home for the R&B hall of fame and museum.

International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum is stuck in the planning stages for a public facility in Detroit.

Reggae Hall of Fame

A Reggae Hall of Fame has been proposed in Jamaica, but has been slow in coming. (See articles by The Gleaner: “Reggae Hall of Fame could mean big bucks for Jamaica” and “Grammy Foundation on board with plans to establish Reggae Hall of Fame.”

The Vocal Group Hall of Fame

The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Museum has collected and enshrined memorabilia of over 200 qualified, nominated and inducted vocal groups. The foundation behind the hall had a public museum in Sharon, Pa., but it was shut down. The organization is now looking to locate it elsewhere.

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

“Louisiana is the cradle of the Blues and the birthplace of Jazz, Dixieland, Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll and Zydeco,” the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame says on its website.
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame currently presents a “LMHOF Wall Of Fame” at Baton Rouge’s Metro Airport. It has plans to set up facilities in Natchitoches, Marksville and New Orleans.

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum currently is running an exhibition at Redline Milwaukee and expects to announce a permanent location by this spring.
The museum is expected to feature the world’s largest collection of bobblehead figurines as well as exhibits related to the history of bobbleheads, making of bobbleheads, and more.

Mascot Hall of Fame

The Mascot Hall of Fame plans to open a permanent exhibit in Whiting, Indiana, in 2017.
“The 25,000 square foot, multi-million dollar facility will be a state-of-the-art, interactive, family fun zone, with a wide range of exhibits, activities and events that celebrate mascot fun,” a website says.

Mustache Hall of Fame

Last year, the Mustache Hall of Fame announced its first class of inductees, which included historical figures, celebrities and sports greats.
The hall, established by the American Mustache Institute and Wahl Trimmers, reportedly wants to open a physical location in Pittsburgh.

National Soccer Hall of Fame

The National Soccer Hall of Fame had a museum in Oneonta, New York, from 1999 through 2010. Last September, plans were announced to build a new museum at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, the home of Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.
(Photo of exterior of original National Soccer Hall of Fame by Wikimedia Commons.)

National College Baseball Hall of Fame

The College Baseball Foundation has plans to build the National College Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas.

Legends Football League Hall of Fame

Legends Football League announced plans in 2013 for a physical hall of fame to be built in Las Vegas. The women’s 7-on-7 tackle football league started in 2009 as the Lingerie Football League, but rebranded in 2013.

WWE Hall of Fame

A hall of fame for World Wrestling Entertainment all-stars exists only in the virtual sense today. But WWE officials have pondered having a physical presence for the hall from time to time. Last year, the Bleacher Report wrote about what a WWE Hall of Fame could look like.

International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame

The Scuba Diving Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism. The hall of fame exists virtually with plans for a physical facility to be built at a future time, according to Wikipedia.

Canadian Music Hall of Fame

The Canadian Music Hall of Fame honors Canadian musicians for their lifetime achievements in music.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collections soon will be housed at Studio Bell, due to open in summer 2016 in Calgary, Alberta.

Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame has had several homes, but is currently homeless.
“Currently, the collection is housed in secure storage as the board seeks to procure a fitting, long term solution,” the group says.

Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame

The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made notable contributions to sailing in Canada and worldwide. “Currently the Hall of Fame is a virtual record, but plans are under way to establish a physical presence,” the group says.

Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum

The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum is rebuilding.
Stephen Finestone, chair of the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, announced Feb. 3 that the board of directors has selected Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, as the new home for its institution.

Kansas Music Hall of Fame

The Kansas Music Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to recognize and honor performers and others who have made significant contributions to the musical history of the state of Kansas and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
“Eventually a museum will be established to preserve and display artifacts and memorabilia of those inducted into the Hall of Fame and others who have contributed to the area’s musical history. The museum will include a public performance area,” the group’s website says.