Culture

The Southeast Ohio History Center honored Joe Burrow with an exhibition featuring items on loan from the Burrow family

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Through Friday, March 4, Athens’ Southeast Ohio History Center (24 West State Street) showcased the life and professional trajectory of football player Joe Burrow with an exhibition spanning from his days as a beloved part of the Athens High School football team to celebrated quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The exhibition was crafted by Southeast Ohio History Center Curator of Collections and Albany native Paige Musselman, who distinctly remembers the clamor Burrow created in the region with his high school football career alone.

Burrow
A selection of images displayed at the Southeast Ohio History Center as a part of an exhibition curated by Southeast Ohio History Center Curator of Collections and Albany native Paige Musselman. (Emily Votaw|WOUB)

“When (Burrow) was in high school, a lot of people in the area tuned into the Friday night game of the week and almost made it like a pilgrimage to go see him. And I think there was just a lot of hope and belief in Joe at that point,” said Musselman. “I think for me, seeing him on this national stage really isn’t a shock. I kind of think we all almost feel that this was just a part of his journey — that this was realistic for Joe and something that could easily happen. And here he is.”

The exhibition is Musselman’s first for the Southeast Ohio History Center, and it was organized and executed over the course of only two weeks.

The exhibition featured an array of items, including many on loan from the Burrow family.

Joe Burrow
A banner crafted by Passion Works that was displayed as a part of the Southeast Ohio History Center’s exhibition honoring Joe Burrow. [Emily Votaw|WOUB]