Project Protects Milan ’54, “Hoosiers” Artifacts

The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum has installed a State of the Art Fire Suppression System to protect some of Indiana’s most valuable sports memorabilia.  This pre-action system provides 24 hour a day protection and is in response to the tragic 2020 Thanksgiving Eve fire that destroyed the nearby Hog Rock Café in downtown Milan.  Funding for this $92,000.00 project was provided by a Heritage Support Grant provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc. as well as grants from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation and the Efroymson Family Fund.

“We are very thankful to all our funding partners on this project” said Tom Kohlmeier President of Milan 54, Inc.  “This is the largest project that we have undertaken since the museum opened in 2013.  No matter how large of an insurance policy we may have, if fire destroyed the museum, a very special part of Indiana’s sports heritage would be gone forever.”

The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum contains some of Indiana’s most iconic sports heritage treasures including the world’s largest collection of props and uniforms from the 1954 “Milan Miracle” and the movie “Hoosiers.”

On a cold March night at Butler Fieldhouse in 1954, the Indians of tiny Milan High School (enrollment 162) defeated perennial power Muncie Central (enrollment 1,662) on a last second shot to win the Indiana Boys Basketball State Championship and secure their place in Hoosier Folklore.  The following day an estimated 40,000 people descended upon Milan (population 1,100) to celebrate. The small school’s victory was immortalized in the 1986 film “Hoosiers,” starring Gene Hackman.

Today the whole family can experience the “Milan Miracle” at the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum with dramatic displays and interactive exhibits.  The museum is open Wednesday – Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm and is located at 201 West Carr Street in Milan, Indiana. For more information visit www.milan54.org. or call 812-654-2772.