The city of Whiting has a new attraction that provides fun for the entire family. Whiting’s new $18 million Mascot Hall of Fame opened the day after Christmas and has exceeded the expectations of many. The name only reveals a portion of what this attraction is all about. It is not only a normal hall of fame museum where you walk around looking at pictures and reading descriptions, but they also have many interactive activities to engage people of all ages.    

   The museum includes a snack shop area for dining, a gift shop with mascot merchandise, a 50-seat theater, a “build-a-mascot” section, a wall of fame full of celebrities and notables photographed with plenty of sports mascot claim-to-fames, a area set for guests to become a mascot. The museum also displays of mascot memorabilia, costumes and collectable keepsakes from uniforms to bobbleheads. In the museum there’s a history timeline room of how the concept of mascots began, as well as interactive play and learning areas for children.

   The Mascot Hall of Fame was founded by the original Philadelphia Phillies mascot, David Raymond. This mascot museum had only been a website up until the opening of the one in Whiting. Some of the first inductees included the Phoenix Suns’ Gorilla, the Famous Chicken (San Diego Padres’ former mascot), and Phillie the Phanatic of the Philadelphia Phillies. More inductions sure set to happen in the future. The weekend of June 14-16 will be their first Mascot Hall of Fame Induction Weekend of the year. During this ceremony the museum will induct The Chicago Bulls’ Benny the Bull, Kansas City Royals’ Slugger Lion, Chicago Blackhawks Tommy Hawk and Penn State’s Nittany Lion.

   The museum is located on 1851 Front St., Whiting. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays and Saturdays and extended hours from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The cost of admission is $12 for children and adults with children under the age of 2 get in free.