National Portrait Gallery
8th and G Streets, NW
Washington, DC
Likenesses and objects associated with 100 American sports personalities from the 1830s to the present are on view in a major exhibition. Brought together are portraits, photographs, and sculptures of athletic greats from the spectrum of American sport—baseball, bicycling, boxing, yachting, hockey, polo, golfing, tennis, basketball, racing, football, track, swimming, and skating.
Objects on display include a 1938 Maserati driven to victory by Wilbur Shaw in the 1939-40 Indianapolis 500; a robe worn by Muhammad Ali; Johnny Weismuller's five gold medals; Willie Mays' Golden Glove award; a saddle used by Larry Mahan, a six-time winner of the All American Rodeo award; and vintage baseball cards and team uniforms. After leaving NGP, the exhibit traveled to Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
Complementary 20-min. film, Champions of American Sport, shown continuously in First Floor Screening Room.
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