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Home Photo Galleries The Pro Football Hall of Fame over the years

The Pro Football Hall of Fame over the years

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The Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Hall of Fame in 2010. Summer 1962 – Spurred by the (Canton) Repository’s editorial campaign, city leaders won site approval for the Hall of Fame from the NFL in April 1961. A fund-raising campaign netted $378,026 to help Canton become home to the Hall of Fame. September 7, 1963 – The sparkling new 19,000-square-foot, two-building Pro Football Hall of Fame was officially opened. The charter class of 17 enshrinees was inducted that day. May 10, 1971 – The first expansion of the Hall of Fame was completed. The new 34,000-square-foot, three-building complex featured increased exhibit space, a movie theater, gift shop, and research library. November 20, 1978 – The Hall’s second expansion brought the museum up to 51,000 square feet and provided 70 percent more display space, doubled the size of the theater, and saw the museum store and research library triple in size. October 11, 1995 -- The massive $9.2 million saw the Hall of Fame increase to 82,307 square feet. The expansion was highlighted by the Hall’s new attraction, GameDay Stadium, a state-of-the-art rotating theater. Groundbreaking ceremony in 1962. Construction under way. The building takes its recognizable shape. The original building is nearly complete. Work is started on the museum's rotunda exhibits. The artwork of football players is put into place on the Hall's main entrance. Seventeen charter members were enshrined on Sept. 7, 1963 as the Hall opened its doors to the public for the first time. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle cut the ribbon to open the Hall's first expansion in 1971. In 1978, NFL Commissioner and future Hall of Fame member Pete Rozelle, flanked by NFL owners Art Rooney (far left) and Bud Adams (center) presides over the opening of the Hall's second expansion project. A major renovation that resulted in a new Hall of Fame gallery was completed in July 2003. Two new galleries were opened in May 2008 as part of the Hall's largest renovation project in the museum's 45-year history.

The Moments, Memories & Mementos Gallery features treasured artifacts from the Hall of Fame members blended with state-of-the-art touch screen technology. The Hall's other new gallery that opened in May '08 was the Pro Football Today Gallery that features contemporary themes such as the NFL's most recent season, career record holders and Pro Bowl. The gallery is also home to a traveling exhibit that will change every six months. The Hall's FieldTurf Recreational Field opened in July 2008. The field, which features the same FieldTurf surface used in eight NFL stadiums, has been extremely popular with the Hall's visitors. The Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery opened in August, 2009. Dick McCann, a long-time GM of the Washington Redskins, was the Hall's first director. He served in that role through his death in 1967. Dick Gallagher was the Hall's Executive Director from 1968-1975. Pete Elliott, the Hall's third Executive Director (1979-1996). John Bankert served as the Hall's director from 1996-2005. Steve Perry, the Hall's fifth chief executive, was named President/Executive Director on April 24, 2006.