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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or museums that enshrine the honorees with sculptures, plaques, and displays of memorabilia and general information regarding the inducted recipients. Sometimes, the honorees' plaques may instead be posted on a wall (hence a "wall of fame") or inscribed on a sidewalk (as in a "walk of fame", "walk of stars", or "avenue of fame"). In other cases, the hall of fame is more figurative and consists of a list of names of noteworthy people and their achievements and contributions. The lists are maintained by an organization or community, and may be national, state, local, or private.
The term "hall of fame" first appeared in German with the Ruhmeshalle, built in 1853 in Munich.[1] The Walhalla memorial in Bavaria was conceived in 1807 and built between 1830 and 1842. Inspired by the Ruhmeshalle, the English-language term was popularised in the United States by the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, a sculpture gallery completed in 1900 and officially dedicated in 1901. Located in the Bronx in New York City, it is on the campus of Bronx Community College (until 1973 the University Heights campus of New York University).
The meaning of fame has changed over the years, originally meaning 'renown' for achievement, as opposed to today's more common meaning of 'celebrity'.[2]
At least 13 writers' halls of fame exist in the United States alone, or at least 10 besides four songwriters' ones listed above in "Music" section. These provide recognition of life-time bodies of work by authors, whether living or dead, as opposed to being awards for individual works.
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