Happy Friday!
From the Charlotte Museum of History email newsletter:
The Hive at 35 is a celebration of over 35 years of basketball in the Carolinas. It's about players, coaches, the joy of victory, and the agony of defeat, but most of all it is about the fans. Buzz city is alive with the passion Hornets fans have for their team.
The exhibit will include interactive spaces, a timeline of Carolinas basketball history and plenty of artifacts, from the original teal-and-purple Hornets jerseys and game-worn shoes to commemorative items from the team’s inaugural season and other milestone events. Also on display: vintage Hornets giveaways such as Hugo plushes, team holiday cards and a limited-edition Hornets cookbook. Fans can participate in the exhibit through the “Hive Drive” campaign. By donating as little as $5, fans can have their names displayed on a digital list of supporters on the exhibit’s website.
The “Hive @ 35” exhibit opens to the public on Tuesday, Oct. 10, and will be included as part of regular museum admission. All Hornets season ticket holders will receive a single-day pass for free museum admission to see the exhibit.
Some of the featured items will include:
Since 1989, the iconic Hornets' teal and purple have been featured on all sorts of different commemorative objects, including the clock seen here. These objects brought the team (and Hugo!) off the court and into the lives of their many fans. Hornets merch can be seen in many pop culture movie favorites including Clerks and Space Jam.
1998 Vicky Bullet Jersey. On loan from Hornets Sports & Entertainment. The Charlotte Sting (1997-2006) were established in 1997 and were one of the original eight teams of the WNBA. The exhibit will feature a variety of official Sting artifacts and memorabilia, like this 1998 jersey belonging to 1999 All-Star player, Vicky Bullet!
Dell Curry Game-Worn Shoes. On loan from Hornets Sports & Entertainment. What happens on the court, stays on the court - except when you're talking game-day memorabilia from some of your favorite Hornets players! These autographed, game-worn shoes belonged to Dell Curry, a Hornets' OG player who was voted 1993-94 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Curry currently holds the title of all-time leader for games played as a Charlotte Hornet, with a record total of 701 games.
Because of this energy, the Museum created an opportunity for the fans to literally leave their mark in this historic exhibition- by giving as little as $5.
Each of the objects displayed in this exhibition requires special cases, mounts, and mannequins to ensure they are easily viewed, but also protected from damage. Your donations to the Hive Drive allows the Museum to be good stewards of these pieces of our shared history.
Click here to learn more and contribute!
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Until next week!
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Sources:
Charlotte Museum of History email newsletter.
Email chris@704shop.com if you have interesting Charlotte facts you’d like to share or just to provide feedback!
“History is not the past, it is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.” - James Baldwin