Fame, as the saying goes, may be fleeting, but in New York State, you have a better-than-average shot at making it stick.That's because New York has at least 30 halls of fame that are open to the public, filled with honorees ranging from athletes to abolitionists, dancers to doyennes, soccer players to singers.
The number actually tops 30, but that would include virtual halls -- several of which have buildings in the planning stages but most of which are programs of honors rather than physical venues. Plus, numerous schools, colleges, municipalities, teams and business organizations have virtual halls of fame, which pads the total well beyond 50.
I recently attended a wedding reception at the Saratoga Auto Museum in Saratoga Spa State Park. Because it also is home to the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame, I got to thinking of all the sports-related hall of fame sites within easy reach of New Yorkers.
The most visible and best known is, of course, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (888-425-5633). But it does not stand alone. There are:
• National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, devoted to thoroughbred horse racing, Saratoga Springs (518-584-0400).
• National Soccer Hall of Fame & Museum, Oneonta (607-432-3351).
• Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, Goshen (845-294-6330).
• International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota (315-697-7095).
• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Amsterdam (518-842-0022).
• National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Utica (315-724-4525).
ON THE WEB
• New York Museums Guide
• Dowd's Guides
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