The Hall of Honor Museum is a celebration of all things Steelers, and this year the museum is undertaking a new display to celebrate a monumental anniversary.
The Steelers are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their Super Bowl IX victory, the first world championship the team won, as well as the 50th Anniversary of the 1974 NFL Draft that produced five future Hall of Famers.
As part of the celebration, an interactive display wall is now something guests can enjoy when they tour the Hall of Honor Museum and it was unveiled prior to the Steelers-Texans game. The wall features an oversized Super Bowl team photo, with a bench for guests to be able to sit down and snap photos of themselves and enjoy the glory of a time that kicked off the success of the organization.
"We're excited to open our 50th Anniversary exhibit of the 1974 season," said Steelers President Art Rooney II. "This room is dedicated to the whole decade of the '70s. But the room that we have dedicated just for this year highlights the '74 season itself, which was obviously our first Super Bowl season.
"It was a remarkable season. Started out that we had the players strike, so our veteran players weren't even in training camp that year. Then Joe Gilliam wound up being the starting quarterback to start the season. Terry Bradshaw didn't start until a few games into the season. The defense was so dominant, a consistent part of the team.
"We're excited about the season. Alumni Weekend this year will be dedicated to the '74 team. We are looking forward to celebrating the season all season."
In addition, an adjoining wall highlights news, notes, quotes and statistics about the 1974 season and the draft, that eventually resulted in Jack Lambert, Donnie Shell, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann and Mike Webster being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham was on hand for the unveiling of the display, bringing back some great memories.
"First I can't believe it's been 50 years since that first Super Bowl we were able to win," said Ham. "We talk about that '74 draft class, but for that year, the guy who made the most impact was Jack Lambert. He was a rookie on our football team and calling fronts. He was one of the smartest guys I was around on the football field. That was the key for us defensively that put us over the top. We were able to dominate."
One quote which is part of the display that tells the story of the 1974 team comes from Hall of Famer Joe Greene, who went through some lean years before winning his first Super Bowl title.
"There is something that champions have that you can only get by getting kicked around until you say that you don't want to be kicked around anymore," Greene's quote reads. "I think that's what happened over the course of the 1974 season."
A highlight of the display is the Super Bowl IX Lombardi Trophy that guests can view up close and pose for pictures next to.
The Steelers will celebrate their rich tradition of Alumni Weekend when they host the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 20.
The weekend will highlight the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl IX team from the 1974 season. The Alumni Dinner, where former Steelers share iconic behind-the-scenes stories from their time with the team, will be held on Sat., Oct. 19. The event benefits the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase here.
The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum is located above the Steelers Pro Shop at Acrisure Stadium and accessible via the Gate B suite entry. Fans can visit the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum year-round, Thursday-Monday, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (last entry). It is also closed when the University of Pittsburgh plays at home.
The tour fee is as follows: adults - $18, seniors (62+)/military - $15, children (ages 6-17) - $12, and children ages 5 & under - free. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund.
For more information on tours, group tours and booking, visit steelers.com/museum, or email museumandtours@acrisurestadium.com.
