Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP / Getty Images
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is set to open a permanent exhibit at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford this month. The exhibit will feature more than 200 inductees, including notable Garden State natives such as Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly.
The exhibit, located on the mall's third floor, will offer an immersive experience with virtual reality attractions and interactive exhibits. Visitors will be able to engage with a flight simulator called “Fly Me to the Moon,” which takes them on a journey from Henry Ford’s 1916 Model T to the International Space Station. The exhibit also includes a karaoke section where visitors can sing along with songs from inductees like Gloria Gaynor.
"It will not only be an exciting place to go but it might inspire some young kid,” said Tony Orlando, a 2023 inductee, in an interview with NorthJersey.com.
The 10,000-square-foot center was made possible with $20 million of state aid and private donations. Admission is $20 for New Jersey adults, $25 for out-of-state adults, $16 for children, and $12 per child for field trips through schools and other community organizations.