Croquet is a simple, familiar game, but during its 19th-century heyday it was deemed by some to be improper!

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Exhibition & Croquet Center examines the up-and-down popularity of the sport in its new exhibit, "Croquet: A Sport Story." The exhibit is sponsored by Diversified Insurance and Auto-Owners Insurance.

On display Tuesday through Aug. 1, the exhibit illustrates croquet's influence during the latter part of the Gilded Age. Print materials from the center's Rendell Rhoades Croquet Collection -- the most extensive collection of printed croquet documents in the nation -- combine with artifacts to tell the tale of one of the first sports that permitted women to compete openly with men.

Croquet is set to experience a renewed popularity in the 21st century. Professional players compete in a variant called Golf Croquet, while amateurs delight in SuperSize Croquet, where soccer balls replace traditional croquetballs. The Hayes center will showcase these modern versions during a "Wine, Wickets & Wheels" event July 2 through July 4. Participants will be able to try croquet, watch professionals compete and view the exhibit.

Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and federal holidays. The center is closed Mondays and Easter. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for senior citizens and $3 for children ages 6 to 12.

For information, call 419-332-2081 or 800-998-PRES or visit www.rbhayes.org.