Heinz History Center sports museum adds Super Bowl rings from Franco Harris
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - As the country prepares for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl this Sunday, the Heinz History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum has five new additions.
They will showcase four Super Bowl rings and a Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, all of which belong to the late Steelers legend Franco Harris.
Beginning on Friday, the rings will be in the museum's "Super Steelers" exhibit as part of a special installation that honors the life and career of Franco Harris.
Harris tragically died just days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception on Dec. 20, 2022.
"As we continue to remember the remarkable life of Franco Harris, we thank his wife Dana and son Dok for sharing these important artifacts with the community," Anne Madarasz, director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum said. "Franco was a driving force behind the Steelers' four Super Bowl championships during the 1970s, and this new addition to the Sports Museum's exhibit is fitting as we honor his iconic career and legacy."
Madarasz said it's actually the first time the museum has had all four real Super Bowl rings at the museum.
"Since we opened, you could try them on. We have the replicas, so our visitors can try on the rings. But to have Franco's rings makes it even more special because he was so important and so much a part of all the work we did in the sports museum and in the museum," Madaraz said.
Each ring has its own unique story, but his Hall of Fame ring was not the first one he was issued. Apparently, the one on display is the fancy one.
"In 2013, the Hall of Fame decided to bling it up and they gave all of the inductees to that date the ring that we have now and it's pretty spectacular," Madaraz said.
The exhibition will be on view in the museum through January 2024.