Story by Sara Howell, Features editor
Photo by Sara Howell/The News
Did you know that the first Murray State women’s basketball game was played on Jan. 18, 1929? Or that the Racers have appeared in 16 NCAA tournaments since 1964?
The traveling Smithsonian exhibit ‘Hometown Teams’ opened Oct. 6 in the Wrather West Kentucky Museum at Murray State. This interactive exhibit shows the role sports have played in American society. Games and activities were set up by student workers on the Quad for children and families to enjoy.
The University Libraries, Kentucky Humanities and the Smithsonian Institute Travel Exhibition Service’s Museum on Main Street program worked together to bring it to campus.
Jeff McLaughlin, director of special collections and exhibits at Murray State, said the Smithsonian offers a variety of interesting exhibits but this was the best one for the community.
“We’ve got a proud basketball tradition at Murray State, and I think people are going to be really pleased with what we’ve put together,” McLaughlin said.
He said there is a Racer heroes room, playable basketball art installation, Smithsonian exhibit, and photography exhibit.
Amanda Sadler, student worker at Wrather Museum, said they’ve been putting this together since this summer.
“I helped with placing items, hanging pictures on the walls, redoing exhibits upstairs and setting up the Smithsonian,” Sadler said.
She said exhibits like these help to bring in people from both inside and outside the community.
“It’s a great way to interact with the community,” Sadler said. “You get to see different pieces of Murray State history, see family and friends and rekindle some old memories. It’s a free and educational opportunity that doesn’t happen every day.”
Margaret McCallon, Murray State alumna from Murray, came to the opening after hearing about it on “The Breakfast Show”.
“I graduated from here in 1981, so I’ve been coming to basketball and football games for a long time,” McCallon said. “It is fun seeing these old pictures and remembering the players.”
This exhibit is running for six weeks total, with guest speakers, films and a variety of community events. The opening reception, sponsored by the Murray State Town & Gown Partnership, happened Oct. 8 with keynote speaker Jeff Bidwell, sports director at WPSD Local 6 in Paducah, Kentucky and author of “Extending the Stay in San Jose.”
The Pioneers Panel on Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. will feature Margaret Simmons, founder of the Murray State women’s track team, and Dennis Jackson, Murray State’s first African-American athlete.
Brandon Donahue, Nashville artist and Tennessee State University professor, will be visiting campus on Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Daniel Wann, Murray State psychology professor, will give a public lecture on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. about “The Psychological Well-being of Local Sports Fans.”
On Oct. 20, a sports memorabilia showcase will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Oct. 24, Major League Baseball coach Mark
Riggins will visit at 6:30 p.m.
The museum exhibit will end with a sports trivia fundraiser on Nov. 3 with the help of Museum on Main Street. There will be door prizes and a meal.
Wrather West Kentucky Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while the exhibit is running.