Opening this past summer in southwest Downtown Colorado Springs, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is the latest attraction to the Pikes Peak region and the first completed project in the City for Champions initiative.
From the cutting-edge exterior design to the interior filled with memorabilia, interactive exhibits and artifacts, the Museum is a one-of-a-kind tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements, with Team USA athletes at the center of the story. The Museum focuses on the core values of the Olympics and Paralympics: friendship, respect and excellence; determination, equality, inspiration and courage.
“People ask me all the time, ‘How did it feel to compete? How did it feel to win a medal? What did you eat? How did you train?’” said Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, a member of the Museum’s Board of Directors and the 100-meter hurdles gold medalist at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. “Now, we finally have a place with the answers to the questions. I hope they’ll go for the gold in their lives, literally and figuratively.”
The Museum’s exterior stands out from afar, with nearly 9,000 diamond panels forming a skin that gleams in the region’s abundant sunlight. The interior shines, too, as the building’s state-of-the-art technology and design deliver a world-class guest experience. All visitors ride the elevator to the top floor before beginning their journey along a ramped path that winds progressively downward. The Museum is one of the most accessible museums in the world, designed so all guests enjoy a parallel experience. A thoroughly twenty-first century museum, interactivity is key in each of the 12 galleries, particularly in the Athlete Training space where visitors can compete against Team USA greats.
Want to race against some of Team USA’s best, including Jesse Owens and April Holmes in a 30-meter dash? Good luck – they cross the finish line before you hit full speed.
Want to hit the ice track see how you compare to the best skeleton racers in the world? Just try to maintain your balance and avoid crashing.
Do you have the mental focus of Hall of Fame alpine skier Sarah Will? Put your brain to the test, just don’t miss a gate while speeding down a mountain.
Test your marksmanship in archery? That target never seemed so small and hard to hit, did it?
Try the Paralympic sport of goalball? How will your reaction time fare when only relying on your hearing?
Take the ice in sled hockey? Better focus to deliver a game-winning strategy for Team USA.
The Museum considers itself an art museum, history museum, science museum, cultural museum, sports museum in one, with something for everyone. Other galleries are dedicated to the Summer and Winter Games, science and technology, and the role of the mass media. A 360-degree Parade of Nations exhibit simulates Team USA’s entrance into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony of Games. extensive displays of Olympic and Paralympic torches and medals. Featured artifacts include Tatyana McFadden’s racing wheelchair, sprinter Michael Johnson’s golden shoes, the 2010 Night Train bobsled and the scoreboard from ice hockey’s Miracle on Ice at the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games.
The Museum is open seven days a week and has taken extensive measures to provide a safe and contactless environment for guests. Visit usopm.org to plan your visit.