Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Pro Football Hall of Fame

I was lucky enough to take a jaunt to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton this week. I've been there before. No matter how many times you go, it never loses its charm.

To think, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in our backyard! What a treat.

Anyone who knows anything about or follows football is familiar with the white dome which sets atop the unique brown brick building off of I-77 in Canton, Ohio.

You walk inside and know immediately that you are in the midst of greatness when greeted by the life size statue of the great Jim Thorpe. There are a handful of displays on the ground rotunda level, including this year's inductees, and then your eyes are drawn to the spiral ramp which leads you on one of the most fascinating tours, especially if you are a connoisseur of sports and history.

Honestly, I will not do the hall justice by repeating everything and anything inside. You must go see it for yourself.

However, each display makes you realize (makes me realize in my opinion) how our Cleveland Browns in the 40's, 50's and 60's made a huge impact on the game of football. Most folks remember the bad: the Fumble, the Drive, losing our team, Art Modell. However, if you really follow football, you'd remember all the National Championships the Cleveland Browns won (National Championship would be renamed 'The Superbowl').

All you have to read are the stats, watch the videos on display, take this stroll down memory lane item by item, room by room, display by display, and see not only how many Cleveland Browns Players made history but players from the entire league acted as 'Supermen' achieving feats which seemed insurmountable and unattainable.

The Museum takes you through every facet of the game: its inception, uniforms, footballs, shoes, rules, league changes, players missing years while away at war, and pretty much ANYTHING you could ever imagine.

There are priceless items, ticket stubs, record-breaking memorabilia on display everywhere.

Listen to the interactive videos and narratives. And toward the end of the tour is a, sort of, interactive game room for kids to enjoy.

I'd have to say 2 of my favorites are the room which gives you a quick history of all the teams including which players' #'s have been retired...the really really old memorabilia....and then, of course, the room with the head busts of all the inductees. Each time I enter this room I remember the big news story at the time: when OJ's bust was stolen and abandoned off the side of a highway in Cleveland.

You could spend a few hours, or a whole day!

I love seeing Northeast Ohio in the spot light each July-August at Induction time for the Hall of Fame game and then the actual induction ceremonies. All the big stars come back and Canton is in the limelight for an entire weekend! It's great to see.

And it is right in our backyard. So, if you have not been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, shame on you!!! But seriously, don't take it from me, it's close enough for you to check it out yourself and see why the Pro Football Hall of Fame is this week's Hidden Gem!