The original Ripken Museum officially opened to the public on December 6, 1996. It featured professionally designed displays depicting the life of the Ripkens. The original museum was located in the former City Hall building of the Ripken's hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland. It included actual "tools of the trade," beginning with baseball's early days of no batting helmets and corrugated shin guards. Many of the items were on loan from Vi Ripken, Cal Jr., other family members and close friends.
