World Chess Hall of Fame

World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame is a museum in St. Louis, Missouri dedicated to honoring achievements in the game of chess. It is run and organized by the United States Chess Trust, a charitable arm of the United States Chess Federation. Its past locations include New York, Washington D.C., and Miami, Florida, but it moved to St. Louis on September 9, 2011.[1] The World Chess Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Steven Doyle, the president of the United States Chess Federation from 1984 to 1987.[2] The museum was founded in 1984, during Doyle's first year as U.S. Chess Federation president.[3]

Contents

History

The World Chess Hall of Fame was created in 1986 by the United States Chess Federation. Originally known as the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, the small museum opened in 1988 in the basement of the Federation’s then headquarters in New Windsor, New York.[1] It contained a modest collection including a book of chess openings signed by Bobby Fischer,[4] a silver set awarded to Paul Morphy, American chess player and unofficial World Champion, and cardboard plaques honoring past grandmasters. In 1992, the U.S. Chess Trust purchased the museum and moved its contents to Washington D.C. From 1992 to 2001, the collection grew to include the World Chess Championship trophy won by the U.S. team in 1993, numerous chess sets and boards, and the U.S. and World Hall of Fame inductee plaques.[3]

In the late 1990s, Sidney Samole, former owner of Excalibur Electronics, proposed a deal with the Trust to move the hall of fame to Miami, where it would be located in a rook-shaped building constructed by Excalibur. Although Samole died in 2000, the US Chess Trust accepted the proposal the following year.[1] It was renamed the World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Museum, and has been located in Miami since 2001.[1][5] The museum continued collecting chess sets, books, tournament memorabilia, advertisements, photographs, furniture, medals, trophies, and journals until it closed in 2009. Rex Sinquefield soon afterword agreed to fund moving the museum to the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as the renovation of the new location.[1]

The World Chess Hall of Fame is located directly across the street from the club in Saint Louis’ culturally vibrant Central West End neighborhood. It features displays of artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection, and temporary exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games, and rich cultural history of chess as well as the U.S. and World Chess Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame collaborates with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center to provide innovative programming, instruction, and outreach to a broad local, national, and international audience of novices and experts alike. The Hall of Fame’s collection includes pieces such as a 500-year-old piece from an Egyptian game called senet, the earliest known board game; a custom-made set of chess furniture that belonged to the American Grandmaster and World Champion Bobby Fischer; the first commercial chess computer; and a silver service awarded to Paul Morphy, American chess player and World Champion.

Engaging visitors by showcasing the cultural and artistic significance of chess is a priority for the institution, which presents innovative exhibitions of artistic and historical significance and offers interpretive programs that lend context and meaning to chess. For example, the grand opening featured Number Twelve: Chess Piano Concert in Three Movements, in which Dutch contemporary artist Guido van der Werve performed on a sophisticated, one-of-a-kind chess piano built by the artist. The piano sounded a note as each chess piece is played. The players were accompanied by nine string musicians from the Saint Louis Symphony, who played van der Werve’s original score.

Displays include rotating exhibitions featuring items from the permanent collection, as well as two temporary exhibitions per year. The Hall of Fame also commemorates the careers of its members.

Museum

At its Washington D.C. location from 1992 to 2001, the hall featured America's "big four" chess players: Paul Morphy, Bobby Fischer, Frank Marshall, and Samuel Reshevsky.[3] It displayed the World Chess Championship trophy won by the United States team in 1993 as well as numerous chess boards and chess pieces. The museum gave visitors the opportunity to play against a chess computer.

There are 47 members in the U.S. Hall of Fame, including Bobby Fischer, Jack Collins, Larry Evans, Benjamin Franklin, Sammy Reshevsky, Paul Morphy, and Arnold Denker. Two more are being inducted into the 2011 class.

There are 15 members in the World Hall of Fame, including Jose Capablanca, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Boris Spassky. Winner of the first Women’s World Chess Championship Vera Menchik will be inducted into the 2011 class.

The 2011 inductions take place on Sept. 8 as part of the World Chess Hall of Fame Grand Opening celebration.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dondis, Harold; Patrick Wolff (14 June 2010). "The Chess Hall of Fame is saved". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2010/06/14/the_chess_hall_of_fame_is_saved/. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
  2. ^ Harold Dondis, Harold; Patrick Wolff (17 September 2001). "Chess Notes". Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts): p. D6. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/80835337.html?dids=80835337:80835337&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+17%2C+2001&author=Harold+Dondis%2C+and+Patrick+Wolff%2C+Globe+Correspondents&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=CHESS+NOTES&pqatl=google. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 
  3. ^ a b c Danilov, Victor J. (1997). Hall of Fame Museums: A Reference Guide. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. p. 104. ISBN 0-313-30000-3. 
  4. ^ Hill, Michael (9 April 1991). "Sparking Interest: Chess Hall of Fame celebrates game's longevity". The Item (New Windsor, New York): p. 6A. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=il4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JNoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3921,1843743&dq=chess-hall-of-fame&hl=en. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
  5. ^ Kurzdorfer, Peter (2003). The Everything Chess Basics Book. Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media. p. viii. ISBN 158062586. 

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