Visit the new Value of Sports Museum just a short drive from Ludington.
"Sports teaches you character. It teaches you to play by the rules. It teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose. It teaches you about life."
Beyond the Game… OUR VISION:
Sports are an important part of our American culture. They range from grade school teams to major professional events that feature outstanding, famous athletes. Historically, much of our interest in sports has been focused on winning.
The Value of Sports Museum goes beyond the game and final scores and highlights the importance that sports play in developing character for participants and non-participants alike. We acknowledge that winning and losing are important parts of the real world, but we also recognize and celebrate the life lessons and values learned through sports that can help shape our character and provide a pathway to a happy and fulfilling life.
The Value of Sports Museum, features professionally designed kiosks and exhibits that tell the stories of well-known athletes and local men and women who have excelled in sports and in life. These special people are role models for helping us appreciate and understand the life lessons to be found in sports – beyond the game.
One powerful exhibit tells the story of Jim Abbot.
"Life isn't easy, and it isn't always fair."
Born without a right hand, Jim Abbot dreamed of playing baseball, but most people told him that would be impossible. Through perseverance and hard work, he became a professional baseball player and pitched a no-hitter in 1993 while playing for the New York Yankees.
Jim Abbot went on to become a motivational speaker sharing his story of dealing with adversity in life. His message is a life lesson profoundly valuable for so many people who face significant challenges in their lives.
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The Birth of the Value of Sports Museum
The new museum is sponsored by the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with funding provided through donations and fund raising efforts.
The Hall Of Fame has historically been focused on the recognition of athletic achievement in Mason County, which includes the communities of Ludington, Scottville, Custer, Fountain, and Freesoil. The museum incudes the history and recognition of all of the Hall of Fame inductees and their stories. Learn more at our Mason County Sports Hall of Fame website.
The addition of the Value of Sports Museum is a major expansion of the organization’s mission. It is an ambitious and exciting endeavor designed to benefit the community by connecting how lessons learned in sports can have a positive influence on the lives of both athletes and non-athletes.
Our professionally designed exhibits were created with the help of Valerie VanHeest, the same exhibit architect involved with the outstanding Ludington Maritime Museum. These exhibits represent a significant investment of the organization’s financial resources and organizational energy.
The Value of Sports Museum Will Expand and Grow
Plans are underway to develop partnerships with local school systems, athletic organizations, and community to explore opportunities to make our program available to student athletes, and community members. We will also develop relationships with other regional and national organizations with similar missions to learn from them and to share our experiences on our path forward. The Value of Sports Museum has been conceived as an on-going process of gaining new insights into how life lessons taken from the world of sports can influence the lives of everyone.
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Partnering With Historic White Pine Village
The new museum is part of Historic White Pine Village and adds significantly to the visitor experience available at this important area attraction. Find out more at the Historic White Pine Village website.
VALUE OF SPORTS MUSEUM
1687 South Lakeshore Drive, Ludington, MI 49431
(located at Historic White Pine Village)
The Value of Sports Museum may be enjoyed for an admission fee of $4/person. This can be applied to the Historic White Pine Village admission if attending on the same day.
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Last ticket sales are at 3:30pm.