Home Runs and Goals At Two Halls Of Fame! And More

Start your day by visiting the hallowed halls of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located on Main Street Cooperstown. In 1907, the Mills Commission determined that origin of the game occurred in Cooperstown. Philanthropist Stephen C. Clark bought the "Doubleday Ball" and began his extensive collections of baseball memorabilia, which evolved into the Hall of Fame and opened in 1939. The museum completed a $21 million renovation in 2005 and houses awesome collections and exhibitions that very appropriately make it a very special place.

Avid fans can spend days poking about the Hall of Fame, but generally, a tour takes about three hours.

Tie your mid-day meal at the All American Café with a visit to Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, partner properties. This one-of-a-kind museum has three levels of wax figures, a virtual reality batting cage, and more. Don't forget to make some time to explore Cooperstown's robust number of memorabilia stores. You'll find two bat companies, Where It All Began and Cooperstown Bat Company (CoBatCo also gives factory tours just outside the village) and historic Doubleday Field, all within the two-block Main Street.

By mid-afternoon, you'll be ready to travel south to Oneonta, a scenic 25-minute ride, where you'll discover the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum, the Oneonta Tigers and a small city steeped in history. The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum had its beginnings in Oneonta during the 1970s, when the city's two colleges - Hartwick College and the State University College at Oneonta - had NCAA championship soccer teams. Rumor has it soccer fans could be heard in Oneonta's historic downtown "from the Hill" all soccer season.

The new soccer museum was dedicated in 1999 (on the 60th anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame) and features state-of-the-art soccer fields and a myriad of hands (or "feet") on interactive games in its Kicks Zone. The Hall hosts annual inductions of soccer stars and a professional soccer game.

The Oneonta Tigers call Damaschke Field home. Built in 1940, this stadium has been a favorite with sports writers over the years. After a day at our Halls of Fame, Heroes of Baseball and downtown Cooperstown, it's great to spend an evening outside (for the schedule, call 607-432-6326).

Tale a stroll on Oneonta's beautiful Main Street, where you'll find eclectic shops, eateries, and art galleries, including the Wilber Mansion, located at 11 Ford Avenue.

Don't forget to check out the area's four youth baseball camps: Cooperstown Dream's Park (1,500 player per week); Cooperstown All-Star Village and Cooperstown Baseball World, both located in Oneonta; and Cooperstown Diamonds, near Richfield Springs. These week-long camps draw hundreds of kids and teams from throughout the United States.

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