Best Collection / Shrine
Pin Shrine at Dart Bowl
Four display cases at the entrance to Austin's Dart Bowl celebrate not only the noble bowling pin, but also its hard-headed bud, the bowling ball, plus an occasional ode to its sister, the towel. The cases brim and strain at the weight of this massive collection of bowling-themed everything: pins painted like Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men, statuettes of celebrity bowlers like Fred Flintstone, Porky Pig, and the Peanuts Gang, and mug, steins, and glasses to outfit any real bowlers bar. In addition to the key fobs, lamps, koozies, lighters, and pewter figurines, the cases also include some items from the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis Missouri: a turn-of-the-century hardwood ball, a 19th century king pin for a 9-pin set, and the first rubber bowling ball made in 1905. It's a skittle homage you can sink your fingers into.
