GUTHRIE CENTER – Guthrie Center will be hosting the Smithsonian’s Hometown Teams traveling exhibition from June 23 through Aug. 5 this summer. Admission is free. Hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday–Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
This exhibit examines the many roles that sports play in American society. Hometown sports are more than just games – they shape our lives and unite us and celebrate who we are as Americans. We play on ball fields and sandlots, on courts and on ice, in parks and playgrounds, even in the street. From pick-up games to organized leagues, millions of Americans of all ages play sports. And, if we’re not playing sports, we’re watching them. We sit in the stands and root for the local high school team, or gather on the sidelines and cheer on our sons and daughters as they take their first swing or score their first goal.
Thanks to our never-ending appetite for competition and games, Americans now have a wider selection of sports to play and watch than ever before. Football, baseball and basketball – America’s traditional hometown sports – share space on our calendars with soccer, hockey, tennis, running, wrestling, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, sailing and many other sports. What has occurred in our hometowns is nothing less than a sports revolution.
Many special events are planned throughout the time the exhibit is in Guthrie Center. The schedule of events is as follows:
June 23 – 10:30 a.m. ribbon cutting with Mayor Dennis Kunkle and AC-GC pep band and coach's forum will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free games for kids and tailgate party featuring Bart Smith, coach in Clear Lake; Steve Smith, former coach in Guthrie Center; Ray Svendson, former coach in Guthrie Center and Southeast Polk; and Joe Rasmussen, coach in Davis County. From noon to 2 p.m., Jim Flanery, coach of the Creighton girls basketball team, will join the forum.
June 30 – Iowa State University day 11 a.m to 1 p.m. – Free games for kids and tailgate party with Merv Krakau, football player Buffalo Bills; Len Snyder baseball player; Ryan Sloth football player, Iowa Barnstormers; B.J. McClellan, ISU cheerleader; and other ISU athletes and Cy will be here for pictures and fun.
July 6 – Celebrate the 6 on 6 Girls' Basketball Game – from1 to 3 p.m. – 6 on 6 players and coaches invited to share their stories with Karen Mason, Iowa Women's Archives of University of Iowa – 3 p.m. presentation by Karen Mason on "6 on 6 Girls Basketball."
July 14 – Baseball Day – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – free games for kids and tailgate party with Cubbie from Iowa Cubs – Barry Monaghan, former high school principal, with his baseball collection of Milwaukee Braves and New York Giants – Bill Kreici, USA Baseball, National Team Adviser, Baseball player NWMSU and coach to major league players – Alan Mahaffey former LFP for Minnesota Twins. From 1 to 4 p.m. – John Liepa will display a baseball card collection including 217 Iowans who played in major leagues with a presentation at 2 p.m.
July 17 – Dan Gable – 5 to 8 p.m. Olympic wrestler Dan Gable will be present for a meet and greet and to sign his new book.
July 21 – University of Iowa day 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – free games for kids and tailgate party – 12:30 to 2 p.m. – Kent Stephenson coach for Iowa for 18 years
“Hometown Teams is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.”