The traveling Smithsonian sports history exhibit “Hometown Teams” and local companion piece “From Fields to Dreams” are set for a grand opening this Saturday in Monroe County.

The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 7 at the Monroe County History Museum, 724 Elaine Drive in Waterloo, will display photographs, artifacts and memorabilia that will bring back countless stories and memories to generations both old and new. The grand opening ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“From Fields to Dreams” celebrates the many great teams and athletes of Monroe County and showcases the county’s rich history of baseball, golf, bowling, soccer, cheerleading, swimming, track and field, basketball, cross country, football, volleyball, hockey, horseshoes, tennis, softball, fishing, Kloepper and other recreational activities.

It all aims to highlight how team sports have woven our country’s social fabric like no other entity and provided a gathering place and source of community pride.

As part of the exhibit, there will also be special events such as concerts by the Waterloo Municipal Band, a vintage baseball game immediately following Saturday’s opening ceremony, a MASC performance of Abbott and Costello’s classic “Who’s on First?” skit, and multiple sports panel discussions.

Display hours for “Hometown Teams” are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays at the museum.

For more on the upcoming exhibit, visit www.monroecountyhistorymuseum.com.

Calendar of Events

July 26: Opening Ceremony at Monroe County History Museum in Waterloo, 10 a.m.

July 26: Vintage Baseball Game and Rawlings Trailer at Gibault High School, 11:30 a.m. (doubleheader). For more, visit http://www.republictimes.net/vintage-baseball-brings-history-to-life/

July 29: Waterloo Municipal Band Concert on courthouse square, “Exploring Sports History Through Music,” 8 p.m. (With Abbott and Costello skit)

July 30: Kloepper Tournament at Turner Hall in Columbia, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 7: “Women and Sports Before and After Title IX” panel discussion at Waterloo VFW, 7 p.m.

Aug. 14: “Back to the Future” sports panel discussion at Waterloo VFW, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21: “Chalk Lines, Blood Lines: Talkin’ Baseball” panel discussion at Turner Hall in Columbia, 7 p.m.