Renovated Hall of Fame has something for all ages
By Jordan Bishop
The O'Colly
Although the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will look completely different to anyone who’s been there before, two things never changed.
When the Hall of Fame was reopened to the public June 6 after a $3.8 million renovation, visitors were treated to a state-of-the-art facility featuring interactive displays and exhibits that hadn’t been seen in years. Yet, the plaques featuring all of the Hall’s distinguished members and the green marble rendering of “The Wrestlers”, the only one of its kind, never left the building.
Throughout construction, they would be moved all around the interior but never left. Although all the other exhibits were being housed in the Oklahoma State Library annex, having the two mainstays there made sure it would never be just a building. Through all the dust and debris from construction, it was still the Hall of Fame.
Executive Director Lee Roy Smith, OSU coach John Smith’s older brother, said he wanted patrons to know that the Hall of Fame, like the sport of wrestling, has never died or gone away, but rather is reinventing itself.
“From a recognition standpoint, it is important to the sport and to us to be able to tell the heroes of wrestling’s stories and inspire a newer generation,” Smith said. “With this renovation we now have that technology and ability to share their stories.”
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The O'Colly
Although the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will look completely different to anyone who’s been there before, two things never changed.
When the Hall of Fame was reopened to the public June 6 after a $3.8 million renovation, visitors were treated to a state-of-the-art facility featuring interactive displays and exhibits that hadn’t been seen in years. Yet, the plaques featuring all of the Hall’s distinguished members and the green marble rendering of “The Wrestlers”, the only one of its kind, never left the building.
Throughout construction, they would be moved all around the interior but never left. Although all the other exhibits were being housed in the Oklahoma State Library annex, having the two mainstays there made sure it would never be just a building. Through all the dust and debris from construction, it was still the Hall of Fame.Executive Director Lee Roy Smith, OSU coach John Smith’s older brother, said he wanted patrons to know that the Hall of Fame, like the sport of wrestling, has never died or gone away, but rather is reinventing itself.
“From a recognition standpoint, it is important to the sport and to us to be able to tell the heroes of wrestling’s stories and inspire a newer generation,” Smith said. “With this renovation we now have that technology and ability to share their stories.”
Read Full Story
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