Hank Aaron museum coming to Georgia State, as memorial to be bigger than expected

Georgia State University plans to name its new athletics complex in Summerhill after Hank Aaron and create a museum in his honor, according a person familiar with the project.

Georgia State has been working with Aaron’s widow, Billye, on the design. It will feature a 24/7, walkthrough memorial for the Atlanta Braves icon, who died on Jan. 22, at the former site of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It will sit between GSU's soon-to-be built baseball and softball complex, which will also be named after Aaron.

The museum will be adjacent to the "715" home plate location where Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s iconic home run record in 1974. It will also highlight a redesigned plaza area that will recognize Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all-time.

Georgia State declined to comment on the project as it remains in the contractual and review process. The complex is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months.

The entire project is expected to cost closer to $20 million, up from the originally estimated $10 million, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. It will be paid for through a private campaign that includes local dignitaries and others in Atlanta’s business community.

Aaron had been waiting for quite some time to see his commemoration become reality and was set to help design the project before his death. GSU could potentially host baseball games and tournaments for Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the new ballpark. Aaron always encouraged more Black athletes to play baseball and incorporating HBCUs is yet another way of honoring his unrivaled legacy.

The baseball and softball complex is just one part of GSU’s overall plan to build a cohesive athletics neighborhood. This ambitious push to create a larger presence in the city started almost four years ago with the acquisition of Turner Field, the former home of the Braves.