Hall of Glory: Celebrate Football’s Finest in Canton

Ohio is known as the birthplace of aviation, rock 'n' roll and professional football. The pigskin part of the equation started in Canton when the American Professional Football Association formed in 1920, later to become known as a little thing called the NFL. (Ever heard of it?) The city also boasts football's first dynasty, the Canton Bulldogs, which won league titles in 1922 and 1923.

All of this makes Canton the obvious choice for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which opened in 1963 and offers multimedia-heavy exhibits spanning more than 100 years of football history. Museum spotlights include the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a massive sports card collection and the Black College Football Hall of Fame. In addition, the holographic "A Game for Life" theatre presentation features the game's biggest icons doling out inspirational advice. (Oh, hey, Joe Namath!)

The Hall of Fame Gallery—which displays bronze busts of every inductee—is the museum's most famous and awe-inspiring exhibit . By the end of 2021, this space will include all the members of the Hall's newest classes (such as quarterbacking – and commercial acting – legend Peyton Manning).

Fans can toast to these icons at August's Enshrinement Festival, a weeklong-plus events series encompassing concerts, outdoor events and the vaunted Gold Jacket Ceremony. It’s also a great chance to revel in the area's ongoing expansion, most notably the renovated Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and new Centennial Plaza.

LEGENDS OF THE LAND

These Cleveland Browns Hall of Famers have been hailed for reaching gridiron glory: