A Must Visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

If one ever makes their way to the Midwest, a must stop is in the city of Canton, Ohio to see its prized jewel, the Professional Football Hall of Fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame first opened its doors to the public on September 7, 1963, with more than seven million visitors having toured the museum. The museum itself is nearly 83,000 square feet and has been transformed by three expansions in the past 40 years. This museum serves as the shrine of professional football, in which professional football players, as well as many growing youths, set their goal of someday presenting an acceptance speech at its doorsteps. Professional football may still take a backseat to baseball as America’s pastime, but has taken over the sole title as America’s passion. 
   
The newest feature of the Pro Football HOF is Football and America: The NFL Responds During Times of National Crises, an exclusive museum exhibit developed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Football League has been reinstalled in the Hall of Fame in time for this year’s enshrinement celebration . Initially designed to distinguish the role played by the NFL and its players during times of national crises and military conflicts from World War II through the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2002, the exhibit has been expanded to include the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Included in the exhibit is a special tribute to former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman who lost his life in Afghanistan while serving as a member of the U.S. Army Rangers. Tillman’s Cardinals jersey and his Ranger uniform are featured in the exhibit along with a video taped interview discussing his feelings after the September 11th attacks. This exhibit may be the most visited site in the museum due to the current circumstances in the Middle East.