The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame was founded in 1996 by the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society and the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas. Each year, the Hall of Fame has honored four individuals on the basis of their continued excellence and long-time contribution to the science fiction and fantasy field.

The induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame has previously been held at the Campbell Conference Awards at the University of Kansas. The 2004 Induction was the last induction that will take place at the University of Kansas. In 2003 the board of the Hall of Fame was approached by the new Science Fiction Museum begun by Paul Allen in Seattle. They wanted to establish a Science Fiction Hall of Fame and had discovered that the one started by KaCSFFS and the Institute already existed. The board reviewed the museum's plans and their resources and decided that the museum could provide the best future for the Hall of Fame. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame opened in June of 2004 and our previous awards were transferred to the new facility and we believe that it has a bright future.