Rock Island, IL: For more than 80 years, Rock Island and Moline sports fans have loyally cheered on their favorite Hometown Teams. Now the historic stadiums where our teams play will get their day in the spotlight. The Rock Island Library will offer a guided bus tour of Rock Island High School stadium, Wharton Field House, Browning Field and Augustana College's Lindberg Field (formerly Ericson) from 9:30 am to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The free tour includes presentations on the historic features and significance of each stadium, along with running bus commentary by Thom Cornelis on 44 years in local sports broadcasting. Reservations are required for bus arrangements. To sign up, call the Rock Island Library at 309-732-7345, or use the registration option on the library's online calendar.
Reservations are requested by Monday, Sept. 22. The event is free and open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and strollers are not recommended due to space limitations. The bus leaves from the Rock Island Main Library's 20th Street parking lot promptly at 9:30 am and returns by noon.
The free tour is part of Hometown Teams, which brings national and local sports history to the Rock Island Public Library from Sept. 13 to Oct. 25. Activities include a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Museum, local sports history displays and 12 free programs on local sports heritage.
"Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America, will be on view Saturday, Sept. 13 to Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Rock Island Library's Main Branch, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. The library will kick off the exhibit with a free opening day ceremony from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 13, with tailgate hot dogs and bands in the library's 20th Street parking lot. The event also includes a Saturday baseball story time, with Rascal the River Bandit, at 11:00 am in the Children's Room. The opening ceremony is free and open to the public.
All events are free and open to the public. Free program guides are available, or contact the library at 309-732-READ or www.rockislandlibrary.org.
"Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America" is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Illinois Humanities Council.
Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Local sponsors include the Rock Island Community Foundation, Illinois Humanities Council, Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island Public Library Foundation, and Sedona Staffing, along with sponsorships from WHBF TV/CBS 4, Townsquare Media (ESPN Quad Cities 93.5, The HAWK 104.9, 97X WXLP, and B100 ), Mickle Communications, The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus and the River Cities Reader. In kind support has been received from Bill's Moving and Storage, Victory Enterprises, and Midwest Graphics Management.
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Exhibit Venue: Rock Island Main Library: 401 19th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201, 309-732-READ (7323), www.rockislandlibrary.org. Second- floor exhibit space open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, during all scheduled library programs, and by contacting first floor service desk at other times. Exhibits close one-half hour before library closing. General library hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The library is closed on Sundays.
