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Visit the Super Museum and Gift Store in Metropolis, IL.
CLICK THE PICTURE OF ME PAINTING THE SUPERMAN STATUE TO SEE THE ART I HAVE CREATED OR REFURBISHED IN THE SUPER MUSEUM AND AROUND METROPOLIS.
I have repainted the 15 ft bronze Superman statue (located next to the Super Museum, downtown Metropolis) about half a dozen times since 1996; the last time was in 2015. In 2021 the town of Metropolis hired a company to do it. It looks good, but they forgot to leave the belt buckle and the emblem on the back unpainted (to show the bronze underneath the paint).
The Super Museum
The Super Museum has been FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED for almost 3 decades!!
The Curator Jim Hambrick is my Dad. And, there is art I created or refurbished that can be seen in the Super Museum and around the town of Metropolis. I volunteered many hours for my Dad at his Super Museum throughout my life. You can even see some of my art in his museum. I am thankful and very appreciative my Sister and her Family have helped keep the store/museum open and the Family tradition alive.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!!
The Super Museum and Gift Store
Enter the Gift Store through the red door at the far RIGHT, as can be seen in picture . Passed the benches, and passed the '54 Bel Air.
Enter the Super Museum inside the Gift Store with paid admission.
Click link below for the Super Museum, which has more information, links, and direction's to Metropolis, IL. the Home of Superman.
Your One Stop Shop for All Things Superman
If you can't make it to Metropolis Illinois for a visit, you can purchase most items from the Gift Shop online at www.supermanstuff.com
Superman Celebration since June 9, 1972
The annual Superman Celebration will be held June 10th-12th, 2022
Celebrating The Man of Steel
The Superman Celebration is a must-see event for people of all ages, wildly comic book lovers, and cosplayers. Superman and comic book fans travel from all over the globe to visit the small Southern Illinois town that is the Official Home of Superman. The real-life Metropolis, with a population of 6,500 residents, welcomes approximately 30,000 people over the four-day celebration.
“It’s a chance for people of all ages to come together and enjoy a fun weekend,” says Metropolis Tourism Director Angie Shelton. “You never know who you’ll meet…, and you never know what you’ll see; the Superman Celebration is a comic con with a small town twist!”
Complete with an Artist’s Alley where artists and writers from the comics can be met for photos or personalized sketches and signatures, Man of Steel exhibitions and contests, an amusement park, live music, and a $1000 Superhero Costume Contest, the Superman Celebration provides fun for the entire family.
The Annual Superman Celebration usually takes place on the second weekend of June. Unfortunately, Covid changed those dates last year.
For more information about the Superman Celebration, visit www.supermancelebration.net or call 800-949-5740.
For information about Metropolis attractions and lodging, visit www.metropolistourism.com or call 877-424-5025.
Hanging out with Joe Shuster
Me at my Dad's (Jim Hambrick) "Superman Mobile Museum" tour that Joe Shuster appeared at during several special personal appearances in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Joseph Shuster was a Canadian-American comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with Jerry Siegel, in Action Comics #1.
A little history on Metropolis, the connection to Superman, and the Super Museum.
Metropolis, Illinois, is the only town in the United States named Metropolis. It was called Metropolis in the 1800s because it was a bustling River town with a large population. At the time, it was predicted that the small town would be a Metropolis (Metropolis means Big City in Greek.) But, Metropolis has remained a small town, more like Smallville. On June 9, 1972, the Illinois House of Representatives officially proclaimed that Metropolis was the "Hometown of Superman." The following year the "Amazing World of Superman" museum was opened in town by a man named Bob Westerfield. Metropolis had plans to build a thousand-acre, 50-million-dollar Superman theme park with a 200-foot-tall statue. Maybe one day!!
The world-famous Super Museum officially opened in 1993 in the Man of Steel's official Hometown Metropolis, Illinois. The Super Museum and Gift Store are located on Superman Square in downtown Metropolis, right next to the 15 ft. tall bronze Superman Statue.
The Super Museum is organized around particular eras and portrayals of Superman, spanning television, movies, and comics, and is changed frequently to encourage repeat visits. The items showcased in the Super Museum are iconic items from the superhero's 80-year history. Virtually every Superman toy ever produced, as well as movie props and promotional materials from all the Superman movies & TV series and the ONLY full George Reeves Superman costume still in existence.
The Super Museum has also received many honors, including being awarded "#1 Small Town Attraction In America". The Super Museum has been proudly featured on The Daily Show, Entertainment Tonight, EXTRA, Treasures in your Home, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, "Kovel's on Collecting," TNN, 'E' Entertainment Television, & Unsolved Mysteries as well as dozens of documentary and News programs around the world. Also, featured on GasTV in some locations. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Metropolis, Illinois, we invite you to stop by the Super Museum for some SUPER FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!!!
Getting a lift from Kirk Alyn in the early 80's
Kirk Alyn was a frequent visitor to the Hambrick house when I was a kid. My Dad (Jim Hambrick) was his touring manager during this time and he took Kirk around with his mobile museum to sign autographs and take picrues. Yes, this was before that was a popular thing to do at Comic Conventions.
Kirk Alyn was an American actor, best known for being the first actor to play the DC Comics character Superman in live-action for the 1948 movie serial Superman and its 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman, as well as Blackhawk from the Blackhawk movie serial in 1952, and Sam Lane in 1978's Superman
Superman Celebration June 10, 2006
The only time I ever dressed up as Supergirl was during the Superman Celebration. It was so fun posing for pictures with the kids and Scott Cranford in 2006.
In May of 2000, the city had no one that fit the superhero criteria. As the June event grew nearer, the organizers worried that there would be no Superman that year. That's when a wire service picked up an article about the dilemma, which took the story nationwide. The ensuing media coverage would shine the national spotlight on the quaint little town of Metropolis, and Scott Cranford felt it was his destiny.
Actor and bodybuilder Scott Cranford from Glendale, CA., was the official Superman of Metropolis, Illinois, from 2000 until 2007. While this role has traditionally been performed by local talent, Metropolis welcomed Scott with open arms, and he did an outstanding job portraying the Man of Steel.
Inside the Museum 2010
This video "Inside the Super Museum" was shot and edited by a friend of mine in 2010. It is so much different inside the Super Museum now.
The Superman Comfy Throw
The most popular product sold at the Super Museum Gift Store in 2010
Starring, written, shot and edited by me 2010