MUSEUMS;

MUSEUMS;

You asked for an update of a 1995 report on the states that have a hall of fame to honor those who were born in or lived in the state.

Five state halls of fame are described in OLR report 95-R-1365. Since that report was written, Georgia repealed its law on the hall of fame, which had never been implemented. Now, in addition to Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Nebraska, Idaho, South Carolina, and South Dakota have state halls of fame established or designated by statute, making a total of seven states.

Idaho law creates the 12-member Idaho Hall of Fame Building Advisory Board that overseas development of a permanent facility. The state historical commission’s board of trustees, legislative leaders, and the hall of fame’s board of directors appoint nine of its members and they in turn appoint three others. The law charges the advisory board with the duty to select and design a permanent site for the state’s hall of fame; collect the material and information to be included in it; and arrange for its administration, funding, and permanent operation. The law also creates a fund in the state treasury for contributions, appropriations, grants, and gifts to be used to support the board’s activities (Idaho Code §§ 67-8501—8504).

In South Carolina, the law designates the South Carolina Hall of Fame in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center operated by a private charitable corporation is the state’s official Hall of Fame. It is not a state agency or educational institution entitled to any state funds nor does the designation confer any official sanction of its activities (S. C. Code Ann. § 1-1-707).

South Dakota law simply designates the Hall of Fame in Chamberlain as the official Hall of Fame of South Dakota (S. D. Codified Laws Ann. § 1-6-16. 6). The state’s website provides no other information about the facility.

MMJ: eh