The Baseball Heritage Museum In Cleveland Takes You Back To The Roots Of An All American Sport
In the past, we’ve explored photos of long-gone Cleveland landmarks like League Park, where the Cleveland Indians played a few World Series games. This landmark awed Clevelanders from 1891 until it was demolished in 1951, but parts of Cleveland’s historic ballpark are preserved to this very day. In fact, the Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland calls League Park and its old ticket office home to this very day… and it keeps alive some of the memories made at The Land’s first ballpark. Are you ready to check out this cool local landmark? First, let’s root, root, root for the home team, because some of their coolest artifacts are stored at this fascinating site.
Welcome to the Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland!
The city is filled to the brim with museums, but few are quite as classically Cleveland as the Baseball Heritage Museum. The city has long had a romance with baseball, from early settlers keeping busy to the very first professional ballgame in 1869, which featured our proud team The Cleveland Forest Citys. Our fascinating museum explores more than just Cleveland's baseball history, but it does so in the historic ticket house from the city's first ballpark.
This collection of classic Americana has existed since 1997, but the museum found a permanent home at League Park in 2014.
The exhibits here are absolutely fascinating. The museum has a dedication to preserving artifacts and, with them, stories. In addition to celebrating diversity in this long-standing sport, you'll find artifacts that are cool, quirky, and awe-inspiring. There's so much to see here that something in particular will surely leave you amazed!
At the museum, visitors will find historic photos, game-used memorabilia, uniforms, letters, and so much more.
You can connect with the museum on Facebook for a sneak peek at what's hiding out at Cleveland's first ballpark. There's a lot to see, as you'll surely learn, and the best way to take it all in is to coordinate a visit to this awesome local landmark.
The museum is particularly interested in the diversity that built up this all-American sport, and its collections reflect that.
The collection actually began its life as the Negro League Legends of Baseball. It was striving to highlight stories of populations that contributed to the sport but are not examined quite as closely as Major League figures. That dedication caused the collection to expand to include everything from the Caribbean Leagues to the Women's Leagues, and today it seems to be ever-growing.
Each exhibit is fascinating, but it's the museum's dedication to telling and preserving stories that makes each visit truly special.
There's something so powerfully human about hearing stories. Oral traditions have shaped humankind for millennia, and we've passed down tales from generation to generation. However, this museum preserves tales that might have otherwise been forgotten. You can make a difference in their continuation by joining the museum -- it's only $15 per person (with deeper discounts for couples and families) and includes unlimited admission to the museum, 20% off in the gift shop, and more.
This desire to tell stories and educate makes the museum particularly attractive for group trips or field trips.
Field trips and group trips alike are fun for everyone involved, and they're budget-friendly compared to other Cleveland attractions. Prefer a more intimate experience? Sign up for one of their upcoming events to get involved.
Of course, it's also perfect just for a casual visit. Who wouldn't want to take a trip through time via the exhibits?
The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and group tours can be scheduled by appointment. History buffs and sports fans alike will appreciate the fascinating collection at this incredible Cleveland museum.
During your visit, you might just uncover a bit of Cleveland's own hidden history, too.
Look for this landmark at 6601 Lexington Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103.
The Baseball Heritage Museum in Cleveland is one of the city’s coolest attractions, but many locals have yet to visit it. What’s holding you back? This historic structure is calling your name today!
Love exploring unique places? Check out The Sanctuary Museum (formerly called the Museum of Divine Statues) for more local fun.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
