Museum Showcases Football History Away From Super Bowl Hustle & Bustle
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) – Away from the hustle and bustle of Super Bowl City, the NFL experience and Levi's Stadium, the Triton Museum in Santa Clara has been transformed into a mini version of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Gridiron Glory" is a traveling exhibit that features artifacts from the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Recently, my wife and I made a trip to the museum. On our visit, there wasn't a long line and on street parking was ample. Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested.
In the Champions Theater, visitors can watch NFL Films highlights from past Super Bowls, snap a picture with the Lombardi Trophy, and see jerseys from numerous Super Bowl winners and Hall of Famers.
Visitors will receive an education from the game's early days to today through the hundreds of items on display. Particularly striking is how uniforms and equipment have changed, from the leather helmets of a century ago, to the modern shoulder pads of today (which you can try on).
Accomplishments of the 49ers and Raiders are well represented in Gridiron Glory, including items from the Niners run of five Super Bowl titles. Former Raiders coach Art Shell, the first African-American coach in the modern era, is highlighted in a part of the exhibit about the game's road to racial integration.
Fans of other teams should also feel right at home. My wife, a Detroit Lions fan, enjoyed seeing the jersey Barry Sanders wore when he achieved 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, along with items when the team won three NFL titles (pre-Super Bowl) in the 1950s.
Another example, New York Giants fans might be thrilled to see a game ball from Super Bowl XLII, where the Giants ended the New England Patriots dreams of an undefeated season a few years ago.
At interactive displays located throughout the exhibit, visitors can look up and see highlights of the nearly 300 Hall of Famers, watch thrilling finishes in NFL history, and review close plays in a replay booth. Still, it's a low-key experience compared to most other events surrounding Super Bowl week.
The exhibit will be around long after the Super Bowl 50 champion is crowned. Gridiron Glory is open daily at the Triton Museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until April 3rd.
Tim Fang is a digital producer for CBS San Francisco. A native of the Bay Area, follow him on Twitter @fangtj.
