The Roger Maris Museum

A permanent shrine to a reluctant hero.

When approached with the idea of creating a museum in his honor, New York Yankee outfielder Roger Maris, who hailed from Fargo, initially declined out of humility. Eventually, though, he would say, "Put it where people will see it, and where they won't have to pay for it." Maris is best known for hitting sixty-one home runs in 1961. His 61 in '61 set a new major league record, breaking Babe Ruth's previous mark of 60 hit in 1927.

The Roger Maris Museum opened in 1984. True to Roger's wishes, the museum couldn't be more accessible. Housed in the West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo, the glass enclosed museum allows visitors to re-live Roger's legendary life every minute the mall is open - every day of the year but Christmas Day, Easter and Thanksgiving. Well over 7 million people visit the mall in a year, and while museum officials don't keep track of how many stop to view the Roger memorabilia, museum developer Jim McLaughlin says, "You're hardly ever here when there isn't somebody looking at it."

In 2003, the museum was completely rebuilt by West Acres. Pat Maris and members of the Maris family were special guests at the re-dedication, along with Jim McLaughlin, who created the original museum with American Legion Post No. 2. The renovated museum has new glass, lighting and ventilation to better preserve and showcase the artifacts. Other exciting features of the museum include:

A video room to watch an expanded collection of videos while sitting on actual Yankee Stadium seats from the Maris era.

A replica of Roger's Yankee Stadium monument.

A replica of Roger's 1961 locker.

Displays and artifacts from Roger's youth and Major League playing days.

Artifacts restored from the original museum.

A Sampling of Artifacts in the Roger Maris Museum

Museum artifacts.

In addition to video of Roger's feats, including video of the famed No. 61 in 1961, the museum displays items from every year and every aspect of Roger's athletic career, from high school to the pros; the displays will change semi-annually. Everything is authentic. McLaughlin was meticulous about the museum. When a Yankees uniform with the No. 9 arrived, McLaughlin recognized it was not an authentic uniform of the heavy wool that players wore in Maris's day. He sent it back, and the Yankees replaced it.

Explore Related Categories