The International Checkers Hall of Fame

Cover of journal shows the words: International Checker Hall of Fame presents, and then the word: Checkers in large red script with green outline. The photo below is of the inside of the Checkers Hall of Fame building where there is a large checkboard on the floor with giant checker pieces. The ceiling is also checkered. In the background, are people sitting at a table presumably playing checkers. The page is outlined in green and white checkers with May 1989 at the bottom of the page.

The International Checkers Hall of Fame opened in Petal, Mississippi, in May 1979, and was officially dedicated during the world checker championship during the same year.  The Hall of Fame (ICHF), founded by Charles C. Walker, was sanctioned by the American Checker Federation and housed in a Tudor-Style mansion called Chateau Walker.  The mansion consisted of two main halls, as well as a seven-story tower.  The second hall was finished and opened in 1986. 

Included in the 32,000-square-foot museum were the world’s two largest checkerboards, a tournament room with 24-foot-high ceilings, a library with books about checkers dating back to the 17th century, many checkers artifacts, and even a statue of grand champion Marion Tinsley, who reportedly lost only 7 games in 45 years.

On September 29, 2007, a fire burned over 20,000 square feet of the ICHF, and left the remaining portion of the halls with smoke and water damage.  Because of insurance issues, the building took a few years to get back up and running, but ICHF is once again open and hosting tournaments. 

At their ten-year anniversary, the ICHF presented “Checkers,” a journal dedicated to the ICHF and the game itself.   Included in the publication were highlights of championship checker matches (including move-by-move breakdowns and analysis), as well as articles on checkers competitors and game strategy.  Special Collections at the University of Southern Mississippi houses the journal, which runs from 1989 to 1996.

To see this or any other Special Collections item, visit Special Collections in McCain Library & Archives room 305. If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Rhodes at .

Text by Andrew Rhodes, Special Collections Specialist.