PRINCESS ANNE — It’s no secret to alums and many others connected to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore that there have been plenty of great moments from its athletic teams. Now a museum in Annapolis is preparing to show off some of the relics from past achievements in the illustrious history of the Hawks.

The Banneker-Douglass Museum, dedicated to preserving Maryland’s African American Heritage, will host an exhibit entitled Hometown Teams: How Sports shaped America. This six-week showcase created by SITES (Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service) highlights the country’s fascination with sports and how sports can connect to American culture. Five sites in Maryland were chosen to display this exhibit, including Banneker-Douglass.

Additionally, each host created a companion exhibition to run in conjunction with the SITES exhibit. The Banneker-Douglass Museum’s exhibition is entitled Untold Stories: Athletes of Maryland’s Four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In order to secure artifacts for their display, the museum partnered with four local HBCU’s—UMES, Coppin State, Morgan State and Bowie State. Each school provided a litany of items which will be showcased at the museum.

Among the items Hawk fans will enjoy seeing include trophies and placards honoring team successes and individuals who made an impact on Hawk athletics and beyond, including Hawks football great Art Shell and women’s basketball standout Monica Felder. Artifacts range from the 1950s all the way through the late 2000s, and cover great Maryland State and UMES teams in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and bowling.

Hometown Teams opened Saturday, February 7th, and will operate fully through the end of March. Meanwhile, Untold Stories, features artifacts from UMES and other Maryland HBCU’s will remain on display at the museum through October.

The Banneker-Douglass Museum is located on 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis, just a few steps from Church Circle and within walking distance of Main Street and downtown Annapolis. Admission to the museum is free and open to the public 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday. Further information can be obtained by calling 410-216-6180.