National Baseball Hall of Fame
The plaques, the exhibits and the history of the game.
Cooperstown
The Baseball Hall of Fame, in a lovely lake village. A pilgrimage for any fan, and pleasant even if you're not one.
Baseball wasn't invented here, but the Hall of Fame has been here since 1939, full of plaques and treasures. Otsego Lake is James Fenimore Cooper's Glimmerglass, and the Farmers' Museum and Fenimore Art Museum are excellent.
- Best Time
- May–October
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About four hours by car from New York City.
What to See
1 of 3 are freeFenimore and Farmers' Museums
Fine American art, and a living 19th-century village.
Doubleday Field
A pretty small-town ballpark.
Know Before You Go
- Induction weekend in July is extremely busy.
Where to Stay
Stay in the village or by the lake.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
Worth a DetourThe Finger Lakes
New York
Long glacial lakes, gorges and waterfalls in upstate New York, with America's best Rieslings.
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If You're NearbyAlbany
New York
New York's old Dutch capital on the Hudson, with an unusual modernist plaza beside a castle-like capitol.
Full Guide
Must-SeeLast checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Northeast list.