The long-awaited U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum (USOPM) will open to the public July 30 and tickets are on sale now. Located in downtown Colorado Springs, the museum is a tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements with Team USA athletes at the center of the experience.
Take a first look inside the new facility:
Colorado Springs is home to the only USA Olympic & Paralympic museum.
Tickets went on sale Wednesday, July 22, with prices ranging from $14.95 to $24.95. Memberships are also available, offering year-round admissions and discounts on programs and retail. Tickets and membership information can be found at tickets.usopm.org.
The museum will be open seven days a week, and will provide timed ticketing and various wellness procedures to ensure guest safety during Covid-19, including mandatory face covering and social distancing cues. Guests will also receive a keepsake stylus for use with touchscreens and other touchable elements to limit contact on surfaces.
"The Olympic and Paralympic alumni community is excited that we now have a physical home for our stories in Olympic City USA, as well as a place for our families and friends to gather and celebrate," said Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, 1984 Olympic champion and member of the USOPM Board. "We hope that every U.S. Olympian and Paralympian will find their way home to the museum."
1968 Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Fleming was on-site for a preview of the museum. "It's spectacular," Fleming said. "It's such a place to celebrate all of the athletes in the U.S. that have participated in the Olympics and the ones that have been real, real heroes."
Fleming donated a pair of ice skates and a chartreuse Olympic dress to the collection.
The 60,000-square foot building features 12 galleries following a narrative arc that takes guests through a Team USA athlete's journey.
The galleries include:
The museum also features cutting-edge technology that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity.
"The stories of our Olympians and Paralympians are the stories of this nation's history," said Museum CEO Christopher Liedel. "Every American can see themselves in the members of Team USA and will be inspired by their dedication, perseverance and respect for the Olympic and Paralympic values. The museum has the unique privilege of telling these stories, and we are ready and excited to share them with the world."
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers believes the museum will become a top destination.
"When people come to Colorado Springs, the list will be: 'You gotta go to the top of Pikes Peak, gotta go to Garden of the Gods, gotta go to the United States Olympic museum,'" Suthers said. "But this will be the top of everybody's list, there's no question in my mind."
A museum shop will provide a wide collection of Olympic and Paralympic merchandise, and the Flame Cafe will offer Neapolitan-style pizza, salads, sandwiches, and more planned by award-winning chef Nick Estell.
Visit usopm.org to learn more and plan a visit.
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