Sports Museum of America

The Sports Museum of America (SmA) was the United States' first national sports museum dedicated to the history and cultural significance of sports in America. It opened in May 2008 and closed less than nine months later, in February 2009.

The museum was at 26 Broadway, in Lower Manhattan across from Bowling Green. The museum contributed to the revitalization of the area following the events of September 11, 2001, as it was situated footsteps from the Statue of Liberty Ferry, near Wall Street and the former site of the World Trade Center.

From the idea's inception, in September 2001 following founder Philip Schwalb's visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the museum was anticipated to celebrate all sports, and the Canyon of Heroes where New York City's famed ticker tape parades originated, was an ideal location. A decision was made to be a commercial organization, rather than a non-profit as most museums are, due to a desire to participate in New York's post 9/11 Liberty Bond financing program (available only to for-profit business). Ultimately the museum received support from the requisite government officials, most importantly in the form of Liberty Bonds issued by the City and the State to support projects aiding in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan.

The Sports Museum of America became the nation's first major museum celebrating all sports: it featured more than 20 original sports films and housed more than 1,100 photographs and 800 artifacts. In addition to becoming the official home of the Heisman Trophy and its annual presentation, the museum also housed the first ever Women's Sports Hall of Fame. Among its Board of Directors were Mario Andretti, Martina Navratilova, Joe Frazier, Bob Cousy, Billie Jean King, Paul Hornung, and 50 other Hall of Fame athletes.

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