College Football Hall of Fame - South Bend, Indiana - University Players Immortalized by National Museum

From the entry plaza and beyond, this building was designed to emit football stadium ambience while facilitating learning about American College Football. The 35 yard grid-iron Plaza is laid out in the form of a football field with its markings and goal posts greeting visitors on arrival. (This space is also made available for private events and parties.).

The current College Football Hall of Fame museum was built in 1995 by the National Football Foundation (NFF). The NFF has run the museum since it first founded it in 1951. Prior to moving to the current location the museum had been just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.

For players or coaches to be eligible for induction they need to have played between 10 and 50 years ago at the College level and need to have been named a First Team All American. Current professional players are ineligible however.

Several exhibits take the form of video kiosks and interactive touch-screen monitors showing footage of highlights of the past five seasons and commemorating great players and traditions of college football.

In the center of the lower level of the two-floor College Football Hall of Fame building, is the stadium theater where a 14 minute movie is shown at no extra charge.

Exhibits include studies of the evolution of sports equipment, the college stadiums where the game is played as well as exhibits such as the Hall of Honor to celebrate the legacy of great college players.

Both A practice field for football skills and a self testing area for general agility and abilities are located on the lower level of the building.

In the Press Box, a gallery of mixed media paintings of Heisman Trophy winners is on permanent display. The Press Box is a small elevated section overlooking the Gridiron and the 43-foot Pursuit of a Dream sculpture on the first floor. Said sculpture combines images of the experiences of young men on the journey to become college players into a kind of tapestry.

Both a restaurant and a gift shop are located on the premises as well.

The College Football Hall of Fame is located at 111 South St. Joseph Street in South Bend, Indiana, which is in the northern part of the state just below the Southwest corner of Michigan. The Museum is in the downtown area near exit 77 off of I-80/90 or Exit 77 on US 31 and US 131.

The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Hours change at different times of the year.

The Museum has a program for youth character development through sports called Stay In Bounds which encourages healthy competition, teamwork and citizenship through sports. The program is designed for 3rd through 8th grade students.

Since July of 1999 the Museum also has a traveling "Road Show'' based in a 38-foot long Recreational Vehicle.

The museum rents spaces for events ranging from 10 to 400 people and provides catering services as well. Corporate packages and group admission prices are also available.