The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum announced that it has promoted Lindsey Hammer to Front Office Coordinator. Hammer has worked for the NWHOF since 2013, beginning as a volunteer before becoming a student assistant.
“Lindsey is a tireless worker who has proven her commitment and dedication to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director. “She played an integral role in packing the museum before our renovation, and has proven to be invaluable since we reopened, setting up displays and continuing to catalog and organize our collections.”
A member of the Cherokee tribe, Hammer is working on her master’s degree in Public Health at Oklahoma State University. She graduated with a degree in Health Education & Promotion from OSU in 2015. She is a recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship, and was a nominee for OSU Student Employee of the Year in 2016.
“I am excited to be able to continue working at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame while I pursue my master’s degree,” said Hammer. “Being involved in the renovation project has been a tremendous learning experience, and I am looking forward to helping the museum continue to grow.”
Her primary responsibilities will be overseeing and scheduling the front desk, and museum curation, including cataloging and displays. She will also assist with travel exhibits, educational outreach programs, database management, Honors Weekend and merchandising.
Hammer is a native of Peavine, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Sequoyah-Tahlequah High School where she lettered in basketball and softball. Her father, DeWayne, is a longtime wrestling coach currently working as an assistant at Okmulgee High School.
The NWHOF reopened in June following a $3.8 million renovation that included a complete demolition and rebuild of the interior, following a renovation of the entryway and roof in 2015. America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, it now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day.
Located on the corner of Hall of Fame Avenue and Duck Street, the museum is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students and $10 for a family. Children 5 and under are free. For more information, visit www.nwhof.org or telephone (405) 377-5243.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation and now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. It also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport.