Bill On The Road
  • ROAD TRIP IDEAS
    • SIGHTSEEING
    • AMERICA
    • ROAD QUIRK
  • Interviews
  • Get My Books
  • Tips
  • Appearances
  • About Bill On The Road
    • About Bill Clevlen
    • Media Kit Request
    • Booking Information
  • Contact
REDISCOVER AMERICA
Road Trip To San Antonio, Texas
Finding The American Dream – Why I Wrote...
This is the Covered Bridge Capitol of the...
This Is The Most Beautiful Drive In America
Covington Georgia is the Hollywood of the South
Columbia: A Gateway To South Carolina
Tennessee’s Country Music Passport
Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas
Quincy, Illinois – An Authentic River Town
Things To Do In Little Rock Today
  • ROAD TRIP IDEAS
    • SIGHTSEEING
    • AMERICA
    • ROAD QUIRK
  • Interviews
  • Get My Books
  • Tips
  • Appearances
  • About Bill On The Road
    • About Bill Clevlen
    • Media Kit Request
    • Booking Information
  • Contact
0

Bill On The Road

VIDEO

World Chess Hall Of Fame

by Bill Clevlen August 9, 2014
by Bill Clevlen

‘Who knew?”  That’s the phrase I used over and over as I toured the World Chess Hall of Fame.  I spent about an hour walking around the three story museum that was once a private residence in the Central West End neighborhood near Forest Park in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Some estimates put the number of Chess players worldwide at over 600 million.  Of course, there’s no way to actually prove that.  It’s not as though you’re required to carry a card in your wallet if you play.   However it’s not surprising if that number is accurate.  Just in the few days I’ve worked on this piece – I’ve had friends and co-workers admit that they are “closeted” Chess players – and I’d have never guessed.

One of the rewarding parts of doing a website like this is learning about misconceptions people have about any number of topics.  For example, a trip to the National Quilt Museum last Fall gave me a completely different point of view on people that quilt.  Visits to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR Hall of Fame changed my mind about people that drive race cars and the fans that watch them.   The game of Chess and the people that love it  are in a constant battle against those that are simply too stubborn to  learn what it’s all about.

As I began my afternoon of Chess across the street at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, I reminded the staff more than once that I knew nothing about the game.   And yes, the club by some alignment of the stars coincidence is located directly across the street from the  Hall of Fame.  (The club was actually there first for anyone keeping score at home.)

Starting with a blank slate in terms of what I knew, it was intriguing to learn some Chess history and discover just how long it’s been around.   Most experts will tell you Chess has been around since at least 650 AD in some form, maybe earlier.   More than once, I was told that you can learn to play in about 5 minutes.  That completely stunned me as I always assumed learning to play Chess would be like learning a new language or how to play an instrument.  Turns out I can  be musically inept and barely speak my native language and still – even I could learn the game of Chess.

It also turns out that Chess is still a big deal.  While ESPN may not provide wall to wall coverage of matches around the world – it’s easy to find coverage on the internet and thousands of people tune in to watch.  The U.S. National Chess Championship is held in Saint Louis and both the club and Hall of Fame attract worldwide attention from top notch players and fans.

First opened in 2008, the Chess Club in Saint Louis offers affordable memberships to a wide variety of players that can show up and play games against anyone of any age.  During my visit – young girls were on the third floor of this renovated 1897 building playing what appeared to be an intense yet friendly match-up.  A dozen people looked on as the two girls quickly moved their pieces around the board.  I still have no idea what the hell was going on – but I couldn’t stop watching.   Age, race, skill level – none of it matters as all are welcome here and all types do in fact show up.

Chess may have hit its peak a half decade ago during the era of Bobby Fischer.  Fischer, who coincidentally grew up here in Saint Louis was known as a brilliant competitor and what we might call in today’s lingo:  a massive diva.   During my visit, the World Chess Hall of Fame was set to unveil a new exhibit about the life of Bobby Fischer.  His notes, his books, even one of his chess boards were part of a collection of artifacts paying tribute to the greatest Chess player of all time.   It’s a fascinating tale of a man that was incredibly smart while also incredibly difficult.    Several films have been made to feature this complicated character including a 2011 documentary called Bobby Fischer Against the World .  A 2014 film starring Tobey McGuire called Pawn Sacrifice will tell the story of a legendary match-up against Russian Chess star Boris Spassky.

So what does someone get out of visiting either of these two institutions if you don’t play Chess?   For starters – it’s never too late to learn.  The Chess Club of Saint Louis for example, offers classes and even tournaments for starters.  Much like poker, players of all skill levels can enter tournaments to compete against one another for prizes.   If you are a fan of art  – the Chess Hall of Fame has some very worthwhile displays and an award winning gift shop to boot.   The people running  both of these places couldn’t have been nicer and without a doubt – eroded any stereotype about Chess players I may have had walking in the front door.

If nothing else – swing by and have your photo taken at the World’s Tallest Chess Piece.  It’s no surprise that the piece is a “King” that stands 14.5 feet tall and weighs 2,280 pounds.

 

 

0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Bill Clevlen

Bill Clevlen is a travel journalist, broadcaster and freelance writer based in Saint Louis, Missouri. His stories can be heard on radio and television, including on SiriusXM Satellite Radio or read in traditional media outlets like The Los Angeles Times. He's the author of four travel books - 100 Things To Do In America Before You Die, Driving Across America An American Road Trip For Kids, and Finding The American Dream.

previous post
Rain Is A Sore Subject In Cedar Rapids
next post
Harley-Davidson Museum

Buy My Latest Travel Book!

Finding The American Dream

Follow Bill On Instagram!

billontheroadusa

Happy 75th birthday to Dolly Parton! Was there any Happy 75th birthday to Dolly Parton! Was there anything cooler than being in her presence back in 2019? Uh.. no. The photo with her statue was from 2016. #travel #dollyparton #dollywood #pigeonforge #ontheroad #birthday #tnvacation #2021 #dollyblog
Martin Luther King, Jr lived here as Pastor of Dex Martin Luther King, Jr lived here as Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama from 1954-1960. I featured the house, which you can still tour, in my latest book, Finding The American Dream. 

While I was there in February 2019, I happened to notice a man from the neighborhood walk by the house and stop in his tracks. He dropped to his knees and said a quick prayer, before continuing his walk. It was pretty touching, and a reminder of what MLK meant to many people who grew up in that generation.

#travel #mlk #famoushomes #history #ontheroad #martinlutherkingjr #montgomeryAL #visitalabama  #america #usa #roadtripping #civilrights #holidays
Howdy gals, I’d like to wish you a happy Nationa Howdy gals, I’d like to wish you a happy National Hat Day! 😉  Flashback to filming a fun segment on how cowboy hats are made in Bryan, Texas. Yee haw! #travel #cowboys #nationalhatday #texas #bcs #visittexas #roadtrips #usa #fashion
Fun interview today with @chicagopizzatours! Be su Fun interview today with @chicagopizzatours! Be sure to watch our conversation about all things pizza and learn about their guided tours in @choosechicago! You can find the full segment on our Facebook, YouTube, and Rumble channels. #pizza #chicago #pizzatours #roadtrips #food #ontheroad #yum #interviews
Flashback to the night I played the washboard at a Flashback to the night I played the washboard at a bar in Lafayette, Louisiana. What a fun night in America’s happiest city! 😁🇺🇸 #travel #ontheroad #lafayette #america #music #cajan #instruments #louisiana #ontheroad
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a 35 mil Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a 35 mile stretch of coastline along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Just don’t roll down the hill, or you’ll spend an entire day trying to get back to the top. #travel #michigan #traversecity #roadtripping #findyourpark #outdoors #america #water #lakemichigan #puremichigan
So much fun interviewing the Founder of @natdaycal So much fun interviewing the Founder of @natdaycal - the #1 trending social media topic of all-time! Marlo Anderson is a stand up guy who turned a blog into a huge enterprise and found his own American Dream. Happy to call him a friend. You can see our segment on my Rediscover America YouTube channel. #travel #nationalday #holidays #ontheroad #livestream #america #fun #northdakota #interviews #roadtrips
For me, the worst part of 2020 was not being able For me, the worst part of 2020 was not being able to speak to audiences in-person. I have so much fun telling stories and talking about travel to great people all over the country. Hoping that I get back to that soon! #travel #ontheroad #usa #america #roadtripping #libraries #books #KC #traveling #meetingsandevents #2021
Just finished the first live video of 2021! I must Just finished the first live video of 2021! I must be part Italian because I can’t talk without waving my hands around. And I love lasagna. So, there’s that. 😁 #travel #ontheroad #livevideo #midwestteavel #2021 #roadtrippin #usa #visitamerica #bill #livestreaming
Ready for another year of adventure. I’m excited Ready for another year of adventure. I’m excited about the places I’ll be visiting in 2021, including some cool outdoor experiences. #travel #parks #roadtrippin #stl #moparks #usa #outdoorsy #hikesofinstagram #newyear #midwest #travelblogger #freshair
First “live” of 2021 happens on Monday afterno First “live” of 2021 happens on Monday afternoon! Join me for a look at 20 road trip ideas that start in St Louis! Based on my top performing post of 2020, I’ll share some other advice and ideas for your travel plans! RSVP now on my Bill On The Road Facebook page, or watch later on our new YouTube channel. 🇺🇸🙄 #stlouis #stl #roadtrips #travel #missouri #midwest #usa #2021 #traveling #facebook
Let’s try this again... Happy New Year! Here’s Let’s try this again... Happy New Year! Here’s hoping to less BS and more road trips in 2021! 😉🇺🇸 #travel #roadtrips #2021 #nye2020 #traveling #usa #overitalready #newyears #midwest #new #america #ontheroadagain #freshstart
I’ve seen my share of waterfalls but this will a I’ve seen my share of waterfalls but this will always be one of my favorites. Bond Falls is so beautiful, and can’t be truly captured on camera. It’s located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  #waterfalls #daup #travel #midwestravel #water #ontheroad #nature #hiking #usa #michiganphotographer #bondfallsmichigan
Celebrating the end of this stupid year by giving Celebrating the end of this stupid year by giving you 20% off everything in my online store until the stroke of midnight 2021! Get all four of my travel books for a great discount to say good riddance to 2020! Link to site is in profile! 🇺🇸 #travel #books #ontheroad #endoftheyear #midwesttravel #2021 #travelingram #roadtripping #sales #newyears #usa #american
This cherry filled French toast from Door County m This cherry filled French toast from Door County may be the only good thing to come out of 2020.  #travel #foodies #doco #frenchtoast #doorcounty #wisconsin #roadtrippin #yum #foodphotos #2020sucks
One of my favorite spots in San Antonio, Texas is One of my favorite spots in San Antonio, Texas is The Pearl! You can find a local farmers market, some good BBQ, and shopping. #travel #texas #roadtrips #usa #lovetexas🇨🇱 #thepearlsanantonio #travelingram #sanantoniotx
Happy one year anniversary to the Saint Louis Aqua Happy one year anniversary to the Saint Louis Aquarium! #stl #travel #underthesea #explorestl #fish #unionstation
How about a Gulf Shores sunset? #travel #gulfshore How about a Gulf Shores sunset? #travel #gulfshores #ontheroad #usa #sunsets #alabama #beautiful #roadtrippin #2020
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! 🎄 #christma Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! 🎄 #christmaseve #travel #ontheroad #midwesttravel #2020 #happyholidays #seasonsgreetings #usa
This was so fun to be a part of! Thank you to HEC- This was so fun to be a part of! Thank you to HEC-TV and longtime friend, Victoria Babu for featuring me in this long form interview. It was fun to share my story and talk about my latest book. If you’ve watched the segment, let me know! #travel #ontheroad #hectv #stlouis #visitmo #books #reedypress #interviews
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Have You Seen These Stories?

  • 1

    Top 20 Road Trips From Saint Louis

  • 2

    Top 20 Road Trips From Kansas City

  • 3

    Top 20 Road Trips From Dallas

  • 4

    How To Tour The White House

  • 5

    What On Earth Is Duckpin Bowling?

LATEST TRAVEL TIPS

Subscribe for the latest road trip ideas, behind the scenes updates, travel tips & videos from Bill On The Road!

viagra here kamagra kokemuksia here
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email

@2021 - Bill On The Road | Rediscover America


Back To Top