National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame for amateur wrestling, headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2010, it began operating the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.

The museum was awarded to Stillwater in 1972 by a decision of the United States Wrestling Federation, which chose Stillwater over a competing bid from Waterloo, Iowa. The museum opened on September 11, 1976.

In 2010, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame absorbed the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, previously operated by the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. That museum had opened in 1998 in Newton, Iowa, and moved to Waterloo in 2006.

The museum operates by private donations and state funding. Six people from Oklahoma formed the Hall of Fame corporation: Myron Roderick, Dr. Melvin D. Jones, Ralph Ball, Robert L. McCormick, Bill Aufleger, and Veldo Brewer. Oklahoma State University, through its then-president, Dr. Robert B. Kamm, provided land – at no cost – with a 99-year renewable lease.

In May 2016, the NWHOF voted to revoke all honors given to Dennis Hastert after his conviction, the first time the Hall of Fame has ever punished a now-former inductee.

The Stillwater museum contains the John Vaughan Hall of Honors, the Paul K. Scott Museum of Wrestling History, the Cliff Keen Theater, the Hein Library, and a variety of educational outreach exhibits.

The Waterloo museum includes the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, the George Tragos & Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions.

The Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum established the State Chapter program in 1993. The purpose is to pay tribute to those coaches, officials and contributors who represent the best qualities of what the sport of wrestling has to offer and who share those characteristics with young people day in and day out. The Hall of Fame and Museum currently has state chapters in 36 states. Contact the Hall of Fame to see about starting a chapter in your state.

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