-- — Two grants will improve the Milan ’54 – Hoosiers Museum.

Officials are pleased to announce the awarding of a $3,500 grant by the Duke Energy Foundation.  It will be used to help purchase the Hoosiers Collection, which will be on permanent display in the new museum. 

It is the world’s largest known collection of “Hoosiers” movie memorabilia, which includes movie props and uniforms used in the 1986 sports classic. This collection contains more than 180 items consisting of basketball uniforms, cheerleading outfits and other assorted movie props. Also included are a large assortment of Hickory Huskers uniforms, including Jimmy Chitwood’s No. 15 home uniform, as well as  Barbara Hershey’s three-fourths length Betty Rose vintage coat that she wore when confronting coach Norman Dale about his past.

Marianne Wiggers, president of Milan ’54 Inc., noted, “The Hoosiers Collection will be a wonderful addition to the museum and will preserve these historic artifacts for the people of Indiana. We are very grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for their support of the Hoosier Collection project.”

UCB Charitable Foundation awarded Milan ’54 Inc. a $1,000 grant, which has been leveraged with other funds to construct the new home of the Milan ’54 – Hoosiers Museum. It will be in the historic former State Bank of Milan building in downtown Milan.

“We are very grateful to the UCB Charitable Foundation for their support of this very important project that will serve as the catalyst for the economic revitalization of downtown Milan,” said Wiggers. “We are currently under construction and expect to be able to move into our new quarters before the end of this year.”

For more information, persons may visit www.Milan54.org.

MUSEUM’S HISTORY

1 Before Indiana adopted the high school class       basketball tournament system, teams from all sizes of schools competed against each other for that one  coveted title – Indiana state basketball champions. In 1954 the reign of the large Indiana high schools ended when the Milan High School team (with an enrollment of just 161) defeated the Muncie Central team (with an enrollment of 1,662).

2. A shot taken in the last moments brought the score to Milan 32-Muncie 30. Basketball enthusiasts from all over the United States cheered for the Milan Indians boys’ basketball team and sent messages of            congratulations. Thousands of fans gathered in the small town of Milan to watch as a huge parade brought the team back to town.

3. In 1986 the small town’s accomplishment was made into the movie “Hoosiers” and the fan base for the Milan Indians team grew even more. 

4. Today people come from all over the United States and many other countries to see the Milan ’54 – Hoosiers Museum and re-live the “David vs. Goliath” event by walking in the footsteps of the young men who did what was thought to be impossible.

5.  The museum is located in the former Nichols Barbershop and is packed with items from the 1954 championship as well as the 1986 movie.