Explore the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Downtown Nashville

Many “Greats” have called Tennessee home. Do you know who they are? One of the most notable is Peyton Manning, but there are several others from hockey, racecars, college basketball, rifle shooting, some Olympians and more. If you’re a fan of sports and want to learn about those from the great state of Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Here are a few things you need to know as you plan your visit.

Directions to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is located in downtown Nashville, a block or two from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or the National Museum of African American Music. It’s located at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators hockey team. The entrance to the museum is accessed on the north side of the arena, through the Visitor Center (as seen in the photo above).

One of the best parts about a visit to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is that this year, thanks to a sponsor (FedEx), admission is free. Take advantage of the free admission to explore the hall of fame and learn about multiple athletes from Tennessee.

The hall of fame is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on Sunday and Monday.

Some of the “Greats” in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Scattered throughout the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame are exhibits highlighting various sports and athletes. As you enter the hall of fame, there are banners hanging from the ceiling to recognize the most recent inductees. During my visit, some of those banners included:

• Mike Caldwell from the NFL
• Cindy Parlow Cone from the U.S. Women’s National Team (Soccer)
• Todd Helton with Major League Baseball
• Mary Lou Johns, first head coach of the University of Memphis women’s basketball team
• Mike Keith, broadcaster and voice of the Tennessee Titans
• Brandon Rowland, who had his lower legs amputated in his youth, but excelled in wheelchair basketball

Inductees into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame stretch back to 1966, so there’s a long list of famed Tennesseans. But beyond the list, there are people and leaders in sports you can learn more about. I enjoy playing some sports and watching others. But I wasn’t familiar with the life and record of Pat Summitt. She was an American women’s college basketball head coach who accrued 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement.

Leadership is really a form of temporary authority that others grant you, and they only follow you if they find you consistently credible.

Coach Pat Summitt, head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012

A visit to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is also a great place to learn about leadership, because in my mind, the greatest athletes are also some of the best leaders.

Ways for Kids to Engage in the Museum

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame isn’t only of interest to adults. There are opportunities for kids to learn about athletes and even try on some sports gear. As you can see from the photo above, on the right side, they can gear up to play some hockey as a Predator. Or maybe they want to join the Tennessee Titans and take on the role of quarterback.

So despite the large amounts of reading and learning that comes from visiting the hall of fame, kids are fascinated by the Olympic medals, jerseys, trophies and hockey sticks from some iconic leaders and athletes from Tennessee.

And don’t miss the chance to snap a selfie with a race car or an autographed mannequin of Peyton Manning.

The Details

Address: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

How long to spend: 45-60 minutes

Cost: There is no admission fee thanks to a Hall of Fame sponsor – FedEx.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Website: http://tshf.net/

Phone: (615) 242-4750 

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