Sports are an indelible part of our culture and community. For well over one hundred years sports have reflected the trials and triumphs of the American experience and helped shape our national character.

Whether it’s professional sports, or those played on the collegiate or scholastic level, amateur sports or sports played by kids on the local playground, the plain fact is sports are everywhere in America. Our love of sports begins in our hometowns–on the sandlot, at the local ball field, in the street, even.

Each weekend, hundreds of thousands of Americans participate in some sport, on some level. We win and we lose, and we yearn to play another day. And if we’re not playing, we’re watching: in the stands, on the fields with our sons and daughters, or in our living rooms with friends in front of a television.

Football, baseball, and basketball capture our attention most, but more and more, other non-traditional sports vie for our time and support. On any given weekend in America, sports are a big part of what we do.

Hometown Teams captures the inextricable connection between towns and their teams. The exhibit will showcase the sports, individuals and artifacts that have been an indelible part of every community, for well over one hundred years.

This rendition of the Hometown Teams exhibit includes local exhibit panels from 9 communities in Hancock County, Illinois: Augusta, Bowen, Carthage, Dallas City, Hamilton, LaHarpe, Nauvoo, Plymouth, and Warsaw. These local exhibit panels will continue to be displayed after the Smithsonian portion of the exhibit has moved on.

Hometown Teams will be on display at this location November 1 – December 14, 2014.
This is the last stop for the exhibition in Illinois.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. However, donations are welcome.

 

Tours and Groups: By appointment. Call Amy Graham at (217) 357-3800 to schedule.

• Local Exhibitions:
  Augusta
  Bowen
  Carthage
  Dallas City
  Hamilton
  LaHarpe
  Nauvoo
  Plymouth
  Warsaw
• Coaches Panel
• Hancock County Basketball Tournament with Keith Yex on WCAZ Radio
• Concert from local pep bands

For more information about the Hometown Teams exhibit in Carthage and the related local events, please contact Kim Orth at (217) 453-6648 or Amy Graham at (217) 357-3800.

Thanks to First State Bank for leasing the building for the exhibit in Carthage, free of charge and John McCarty of Outlaw Tees in Nauvoo for constructing all of the display panels for the exhibits in all nine communities.

Visit the official Hometown Teams site for more information on the exhibit.

Photo Credits/Sources:
Black and White photos from life.time.com/sports-culture/
Color photo from Smithsonian