Located in the heart of Saint Louis, Missouri, the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) “celebrates one of the world’s oldest and best-loved games” through a combination of rotating exhibitions, special projects, and public programming.
Opened in September 2011, the 15,900 square-foot venue is home to both the World and U.S. Halls of Fame, honouring each inductee with a plaque commemorating their contributions to the game. New candidates for both Halls are considered for induction on an annual basis.
The permanent collection offers visitors access to a wide range of artifacts related to significant players and historical events from chess history, including photographs, score sheets, trophies, and publications. The collection also includes various chess sets that range from rare 19th-century treasures to mass-produced sets with television and movie themes that demonstrate the game’s influence on popular culture.
As part of its ongoing educational outreach and cultural programming, the WCHOF offers tours, lectures, and panel discussions by curators, collectors, and artists. Family outreach activities include programs for children that focus on the development of motor skills and language building.
The rotating series of exhibitions delves into all aspects of the game of chess. Current exhibits include Dare to Know: Chess in the age of Reason, Drawn Games: Chess Posters from Around the World, and Power in Check: Chess and the American Presidency.
The museum is also host to the world’s largest chess piece, which measures over 20-feet tall and was certified by Guinness World Records in 2018.
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