OMA Award Spotlight - Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Museum
On Sunday, April 19, the Ohio Museums Association held our Annual Awards dinner to recognize the winners of our 2025 Awards of Achievement and 2025 Visual Communication Awards, in conjunction with the 2026 Annual Conference in Columbus.
During the ceremony, OMA celebrated the outstanding achievement of Ohio museums in Visual Communications, individual and institutional achievement, and the tireless work museum professionals undertake to help to advance Ohio’s museum community both locally, and on a national level.
Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our 2025 OMA Award of Achievement winners with our OMA Award Spotlight.
OMA Award Spotlight - Awards of Achievement
The Awards of Achievement are presented to reflect the outstanding quality and caliber of work by Ohio museums and their professionals in two categories: Institutional Achievement Awards and Individual Achievement Awards.
Nominations for these awards are incredibly detailed. This in-depth process helps to illustrate how these institutions and individuals have gone “above and beyond” the normal call of duty to support their institution, serve their public and advance the cause of the museum community.
Each year, the review panel is overwhelmed by the outstanding projects, innovative programming and dedication to our field as exhibited in each of the institutional and individual nominations. Congratulations again to each of our award winners!
Today, we'll be featuring our winner for the 2025 award for Best Exhibition (Organizational budget under $500,000).
Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Museum
From the outset, the vision for the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Museum, which opened to the public in 2025, was to move beyond a traditional hall of fame experience. The Hall of Fame’s Board and strategic partners created a museum that would not only honor inductees but also communicate the organization’s long-standing commitment to philanthropy, education, and service to the Cleveland community. This ambition required innovative thinking, professional collaboration, and a visitor-centered approach designed to resonate with the public rather than just members of the organization. Such innovation included the selection of the museum’s untraditional location: the new Roundhouse building at Urban Community School in Cleveland. The museum therefore serves a dual audience: students and the broader community.
By situating the new museum within an active educational environment, the new 2,000-square-foot museum is an extension of the classroom. The history of sports becomes a lens for learning about civic pride, social history, and personal character. The exhibits provide an immersive, interactive experience that turns abstract historical figures into accessible role models, providing students with examples of how discipline and perseverance, exemplified by local heroes, can lead to greatness.
The museum has generated meaningful public, cultural, and educational impact by reshaping how its student and community visitors engage with sports legacy and civic responsibility. The project expanded the Hall of Fame’s capacity to serve as an educational resource, strengthened community partnerships, and increased the visibility of its charitable mission. Public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with guests praising the museum’s accessibility, energy, and relevance. The exhibitions serve as both an inspiration to visitors and a model for innovative, mission-driven museum practice. The Hall of Fame Museum reminds all who enter of the inspiration, possibility, and shared humanity found through sport.
Does your museum have a spectacular exhibit planned for the 2026 season? Be sure to nominate it for the 2026 award for Best Exhibition Catalog! Learn more here.