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Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum Gets A Makeover

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Born and raised in Baltimore, Babe Ruth went on to become a baseball icon. When his birthplace was in danger of being destroyed, civic leaders turned it into a museum.

Now as Mike Schuh reports, the home is being adapted so more can come and visit.

216 Emory Street was the birthplace of one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Now, his home is getting a facelift—well, make that a tummy tuck.

"We're moving the entrance from the historic front of the museum over to the side on Dover Street," said Michael Gibbons, Museum Development Director.

A new entrance for new times. When the row homes were built, no one was thinking about handicapped accessibility, modern electric, heating and cooling, or hundreds of people a day shimmying through a small row home.

"Which is going to bring the Babe Ruth birthplace into the 21st century.  New exhibits, new entrance, all new look on the outside and the inside and helps to restore the historic facade of the building," said Shawn Herne, Ruth Museum Development Director.

This place is only a two and a half walk block from the stadium on a nice safe street, yet, attendance for the museum has lagged.

"We weren't as successful as we really should have been, but now we're addressing those issues so people with a bunch of different need will be able to enjoy the Babe Ruth birth place," Herne says.

By making the backdoor the front door, the museum will better be able to welcome all.

"So the folks who come here, it's really a destination point for some many people who love baseball fans from around the country from around the world... this is hallowed ground."

The museum is scheduled to reopen on June 12th.

For more information CLICK HERE.

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