About the Museum
The sights and sounds of more than a century of intercollegiate athletics competition come alive during a visit to the J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum.
Located in UConn Alumni Center on the Storrs campus, the Husky Heritage Sports Museum is an ultimate destination for both long-time fans of the school and first-time visitors. The story of the teams, the coaches, and student-athletes who have been part of the rich history that constitutes the UConn experience is told on a daily basis at the museum.
A tour of the various sections of the museum is a walk down memory lane for long-time followers of Connecticut athletics. For fans just becoming acquainted with UConn's tradition of excellence, the various themes and areas of the museum, when woven together, narrate a complete and compelling sport-by-sport story line. The growth and development of Connecticut athletics is traced via text, photographs and select artifacts from its humble beginnings in the 1890s to its present day ranking among the elite major college athletic programs in the nation.
The museum experience begins with the National Champions Gallery, located in the entrance foyer. It serves as tribute to all University of Connecticut varsity teams that climbed to the mountaintop and are remembered as national champions. A total of 23 national champion squads, representing four different UConn sports, have team photos and national championship logos on display in the gallery.
Upon entering the Husky Heritage Sports Museum, is statue of Jonathan, the legendary mascot of all Husky athletic teams, and the perfect place to take a picture to remember your visit.
Banners hang from the ceiling, displaying images that feature 88 of Connecticut's All-American student-athletes representing 17 sports. A complete list of Husky All-Americans compliments the banners.
Included among the memorabilia in the Husky Heritage Sports Museum are the NCAA Championship trophies won by UConn’s men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer and field hockey teams; the 1950s era baseball gloves belonging to Connecticut's three Dropo brothers-including Walt Dropo's first baseman's mitt when he was the American League Rookie of the Year with the Boston Red Sox in 1950; the 1935 Ramnapping Trophy, which was awarded annually to the winner of the Connecticut-Rhode Island football game; a 1931 football signed by the entire Connecticut squad; team photos of Connecticut's first men's (1901) and women's (1902) basketball squads.
The pinnacle achievement of men's and women's basketballs national championships is preserved in a unique circular sanctuary---the Connecticut Basketball Rotunda.
Championship trophies and related artifacts that chronicle UConn's men's and women's national titles are prominently featured in the rotunda, as are life-size cutouts of Husky Hall of Fame stars Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo. Celebratory paintings of Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma are on display along with a one-of-a-kind watercolor team photo of the 25-member UConn Men's Basketball All-Century team.
Also within the Husky Heritage Sports Museum experience is a video presentation, featuring a behind-the-scenes looks at various "winning moments" as captured on a variety of Husky highlight films and documentaries.
Hours of Operation
Open free of charge to the general public
UConn Alumni Center
September 11 through April 30
Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 1 through September 10
Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon
We encourage guests to call ahead of time prior to visiting the museum to ensure the front desk will be staffed at the time of the visit. To confirm that the building is open or to schedule a visit during visiting hours, please call 860-486-2240.
Please call 860-486-3607 to confirm or to make an appointment to visit at a different time.
Want to Donate?
The University of Connecticut continues to seek additional memorabilia/artifacts to help expand the story of the UConn Huskies.
Anyone wishing to donate items of interest to the J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum should contact:
Mike Enright, University Communications
mike.enright@uconn.edu
