#Reggy funfurhuggin professional#

Here you’re greeted by the museum’s “Mascot of the Month,” which recently featured the lovable Moonchester from Manchester City soccer (or football, depending on where you’re from).Īlso in this department, a floor-to-ceiling graphic chronicles the origins and impact of mascots, and a whimsical library depicts memorable mascot moments of the past several decades. History is an important subject in any university curriculum, and visitors will cover it in the Department of Mascot Studies. In the Marvelous Mascot Maker, they can learn the process of mascot design and fabrication, turn the magic crank, and see Reggy come to life before their very eyes! Visitors can put on a weighted head or vest and try to dance or jump just like their favorite characters, or they can discover how difficult it is to grab an object or sign an autograph with furry mascot hands. What are mascots made of? And what are the physical demands on the performer? This area answers those questions and more by making guests actually feel what it’s like to be a mascot. (science, technology engineering, art, and math) education.Īfter orientation, a variety of physical interactives await in the Science of Silliness Lab. “There’s a lot of fun embedded in here, but there’s also a lot of educational concepts.” The Hall partnered with local colleges and universities to ensure that the museum’s exhibits met state curriculum guidelines for S.T.E.A.M. It’s a place to come and do,'” said Al Spajer, MHOF Director of Community Engagement. “My buzz line for this place has always been, ‘this isn’t a place to come and look. The first class at Mascot U is, of course, “Fureshman Orientation”, where Reggy greets visitors with an introductory video of what they will see, experience, and – most importantly – learn throughout their visit. Once they stamp all six squares, they are officially a “Phi Beta Kooky” graduate of Mascot University, and they can redeem their card for a small prize from the “School Store” gift shop. Here they pick up their ticket and their “exam card,” which they can then stamp at various kiosks throughout the museum. Once inside, visitors find themselves in a towering, sunlit lobby, with inflatable heads of MHOF inductees bobbling from three floors above. Met and Benny the Bull offer the perfect photo backdrop. In the adjoining plaza, cast figures of Hall of Fame inductees such as Mr. Hugging the building’s exterior is Reggy Funfurhuggin, a mascot created by Raymond specifically for the MHOF. The whimsy of the Mascot Hall of Fame envelopes you before you even set foot through the doors. What is it about the Mascot Hall of Fame that could propel it to that level of prominence? Take a tour with us and find out what the fuzz…er fuss…is all about.

#Reggy funfurhuggin professional#

Now that the Mascot Hall of Fame is open, Orestes Hernandez, MHOF Executive Director, has a bold vision of his own: “on the museum side, is to elevate us to a point where we’re considered one of the top ten children’s museums in the country…and on the Hall of Fame side, the character side, I want it to be considered on the same level and spoken about in the same sentence as Cooperstown and Canton, Ohio – the professional hall of fames.” “And now I have my answer, and it’s this amazing place that came from that original bold idea from the Mayor, that this was right for their city.” “Five years ago, I first got a call from the City of Whiting, and my first question was, ‘well, why Whiting?'” says Raymond. The Chicagoland town was already known for its popular annual Pierogi Festival and turned out to be the perfect quirky location for Raymond’s equally eccentric project. In reality, the dream of transforming the MHOF from an online-only organization to a brick-and-mortar museum happened during a serendipitous phone call between former Phillie Phanatic mascot, David Raymond, and Joe Stahura, Mayor of the City of Whiting, Indiana. The 25,000-square-foot attraction aims to engage, educate, and entertain fans, school groups and visitors through innovative, interactive, mascot-themed exhibits. Once welcomed into Whiting, Reggy was eager to give something back to the community, and thus, the Mascot Hall of Fame Interactive Children’s Museum (MHOF) was born. The mascot needed a town the town needed a mascot. There he met a local busia, who took him under her wing, recognized Reggy as a mascot in plain clothing, and convinced him to settle in Whiting. One day, Reggy heard about Whiting, Indiana - and in particular about the merriment and neighborly spirit of its Pierogi Fest - and visited incognito.

Reggy was a mentor and friend to many fellow mascots, but he had no team or town of his own. Once upon a time, there was a Mascot named Reggy Funfurhuggin.