The World Chess Hall of Fame is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and aims to explore the relationship between art and chess. To do so, the World Chess Hall of Fame offers a vast array of programs and educational outreach initiatives to go much farther into the meaning of the game itself while explaining the dynamics of it as well.
History of the World Chess Hall of Fame – St. Louis, Missouri
The World Chess Hall of Fame was created in 1986 by the United States Chess Federation, originally known as the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. When the museum first opened its doors, it was located in New Windsor, New York, in the basement of the United States Chess Federation’s headquarters. Though small and new, the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame included an intriguing collection, including a book of chess openings signed by Bobby Fischer.
In 1992, the U.S Chess Hall of Fame was purchased by the U.S. Chess Trust, which moved the museum to Washington, D.C., where it stayed until 2001. Following the move, the museum’s collections began to grow vastly, including the World Team Chess Championship trophy won by the U.S. team in 1993. Among the other museum contents at the time were many chess sets and the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductee plaques.
In 2001, the museum relocated once again to Miami, Florida. Its new home was located in the Excalibur Electronics headquarters, a multi-million dollar facility. In Miami, the museum continued to grow at a fast rate and increased its collections drastically. In 2009, however, the World Chess Hall of Fame was closed in Miami.
Following the closing, it was proposed that the museum be moved to St. Louis due to the city’s vibrancy and its Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. The city offered much potential for the museum, and with funding from Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, the relocation was possible.
In September of 2011, the World Chess Hall of Fame officially opened in St. Louis. It is located in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood; it is housed in a 15,900 square-foot residence and has a collection of displays, artifacts, and exhibitions larger than ever before.
Visit the World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame currently features many exhibits for visitors to enjoy each day. Among these are Global Moves, Pinned! and the Victor Vasarely exhibit.
The World Chess Hall of Fame is currently open seven days a week but is closed on New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. While there is no set admission fee to the World Chess Hall of Fame, the museum’s board does suggest a $3 donation per person or, for families, a $5 donation. These suggested donation funds will be allocated towards supporting the exhibits and education programs offered by the World Chess Hall of Fame. Some exhibits, however, do require paid admission.
External Links:
- World Chess Hall of Fame
- World Chess Hall of Fame Google Map
- World Chess Hall of Fame Wikipedia Page
Internal Links: