How to Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 28, 2022 References

If you love baseball and want to learn more about its history, you should visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Cooperstown, New York. Opened to the pubic on June 12, 1939, the Museum is dedicated to Preserving History, Honoring Excellence and Connecting Generations.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Enjoying the Baseball Hall of Fame

1
Visit the Museum during a special event. Throughout the year the Museum will hold special events that include the annual Induction Ceremony and Hall of Fame Classic legends game. Visit the official schedule for special events at http://baseballhall.org/events. Consider visiting the Museum on one of these days for a special experience.^{[1]
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2
Visit during the official Induction Ceremony. Held most years on the fourth Sunday in July, the Induction Ceremony features the most Hall of Famers in one place at any event during the year. This two to three-hour ceremony recognizes excellence in baseball and is the . The induction ceremony typically brings the highlight of Induction Weekend, which features the Awards Presentation and Parade of Legends on the day before the induction.

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3
Take a look at baseball artifacts. The first, second, and third floor of the Museum contain important baseball artifacts. Exhibits include Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend, Autumn Glory, Picturing America's Pastime and Whole New Ballgame. Go through the entire Museum to read and learn more about the history of baseball.^{[2]
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Visit the Sandlot Kids' Clubhouse if you have children. If you have children that are 12 years old or under, the Sandlot Kids' Clubhouse has hands-on activities that will maintain their interest. ^{[3]
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5
Sign up for a VIP Experience. If you'd like to learn more about the preservation process of baseball artifacts and want to see a behind-the-scenes look at the Museum, you should consider the VIP Experience. This two-day experience is offered by the Museum and is only available in the spring and the fall. Visit the Museum's website to see the dates for the VIP tour.^{[4]
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Learn how to preserve your own baseball items with a workshop. The Museum puts on an annual collection, care, and conservation workshop that teaches you how to preserve your own baseball artifacts. If you collect signed mitts, cards, baseballs, or photos, the workshop will explain the best ways to preserve and store your items. Consider partaking in the workshop if you're a collector.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Going to the National Baseball Hall of Fame

1
Travel to Cooperstown, New York. If you live in the Northeast United States, driving to the National Baseball Hall of Fame shouldn't be too hard. Visit http://baseballhall.org/visit/driving-directions to find driving directions. If you're traveling from out of state, you may opt to take a plane or a bus. Buses travel to Cooperstown from all major cities, airports, and train stations in New York.^{[6]
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- Cooperstown is located near three major highways, Interstates 81, 88 and 90.
- If you are traveling from out of the country, you'll need plane tickets to New York and the proper visitor's visa.
- The red, blue, and yellow trolleys in Cooperstown take visitors from parking lots at the edge of the village to the Museum. Parking in the village is limited to street parking and parking at the Doubleday Field lot.
2
Choose a day to visit the Museum. The Museum is open seven days a week. From the day before Memorial Day through the day before Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. For the rest of the year, the Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Museum is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Choose a day that's good for you to visit the museum and make sure that you have plenty of time so that you can see all the exhibits available.^{[7]
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Purchase tickets. Before you gain access to the Museum, you'll have to purchase tickets. Tickets for an adult are $28. Tickets for children between the ages of 7-12 and veterans tickets are discounted to $17. If you're a senior (65-and-over), tickets cost $22. Active military personnel and children under 6 years old get in for free. Go to the official website at http://baseballhall.org/visit#id=visit-general-admission-baseball to purchase tickets online.^{[8]
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- You can also purchase tickets at the Museum's Ticket Booth.
- Memberships to the Museum are also available. Members are admitted for free every day of the year.
- Discounted group rates are also available for groups of 20 or more people.
4
Reserve lodging if visiting from out of state. If you are visiting the Museum from another state or country, you'll need somewhere to stay after you visit the Museum. Look online and find a hotel or motel that fits your budget. The busiest times to visit are during the summer, so make sure that you reserve a room before you decide to visit.
5
Enjoy everything that Cooperstown has to offer. Cooperstown has a rich history and a variety of eateries, galleries and events that you can attend outside of visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame. You can enjoy delicious food at waterside restaurants or take advantage of their local farmer's markets. There are also a variety of musical and theater performances like the Catskill Symphony Orchestra and Cooperstown Summer Music Festival. Visit the official Cooperstown website to get a full list of events, restaurants, and galleries in the area.^{[9]
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- Throughout the months of July and August, the Glimmerglass Festival puts on opera performances.

Community Q&A

Question

Which month is the lowest volume for visitors?

Community Answer

Typically the fall is the least busy time for The Baseball Hall of Fame.
Question

How much time should I allot to see the Hall of Fame?

Community Answer

Walking through the entire museum will take anywhere from 1.5 - 3 hours.
Question

I am going on 6/21. Should I prebuy tickets? Is the line long to buy tickets?

Community Answer

If you're going during the summer, you should buy tickets in advance because the season is a peak visitor time for the museum.