February 13, 2026 - April 12, 2026
The Peoria region has shaped athletes who changed their sports forever. Emerging from neighborhood courts, practice fields, school gyms, and recreation centers, Peoria has nurtured athletes whose influence stretched far beyond the city limits into the nation and the world. Each focused exhibition in this series highlights a notable member of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame who, set records, broke barriers, and redefined what was possible in their sport.
Featuring icons such as Shaun Livingston, Tim Broe, Lorene Ramsey, and Curly “Boo” Johnson, this showcase honors athletes and coaches whose extraordinary achievements echo far beyond central Illinois. Their journeys, while rooted in Peoria, carried onto national and global platforms to inspire pride, resilience, and ambition. Through their triumphs, the exhibition celebrates a legacy of athletic brilliance that continues to shape Peoria’s identity and ignite the dreams of future champions.
Part of the Peoria Riverfront Museum's celebration of America 250
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation in 2026. Join us all year long for exhibitions on American art, science, history and achievement, including The Promise of Liberty, an exhibition guest curated by documentarian Ken Burns. Featuring a 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence, a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and more, this exhibition will be the largest collection of some of the most important documents in American history on display during America 250.
Sponsored by America 250 donors, Visionary Society
