ISHOF and Fort Lauderdale Celebrate 100 Years of Aquatic History

The International Swimming Hall of Fame and the city of Fort Lauderdale are celebrating 100 years of aquatic legacy. What began as the Casino Pool in the 1920s — where Olympic champion and film star Johnny Weissmuller helped promote the city — has evolved into a world-class aquatic complex and museum.

Fort Lauderdale became ISHOF’s official home in the 1960s, beating out several cities for the designation. Since then, the complex has grown to include multiple pools and museum buildings, with over 800 athletes and contributors inducted, including Michael Phelps.

After a period of uncertainty and an expired agreement with the city, ISHOF committed to remaining in Fort Lauderdale in 2018 under board chair Dr. Bill Kent. A new 30-year agreement followed, along with major renovations and ongoing development of a $200 million expansion project expected to be completed in 2028.

ISHOF’s mission continues to center around honoring aquatic achievement, preserving history and promoting swim education through its Every Child a Swimmer initiative. Learn more at ishof.org.