Top 5 Highlights from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

The 60,000-square foot U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a must-visit destination for sports enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the history of the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Known as Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs has a culture of elite athletic achievement. Now you can immerse yourself further into sports history at the stunning, newly opened U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. This state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot museum shares the journeys of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes through 12 different galleries and dozens of interactive exhibits.

An inspiring and heart-warming celebration of resilience and determination, the Museum showcases training, technologies, artifacts, and personal stories from a range of athletes. To get inspired for your visit, here are the top five museum highlights to look forward to:

A family walks the bridge to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs with mountain views behind them.

1. Interactive Technology

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum leverages cutting-edge technology to bring athletes’ stories to life. Visit The Lab and look for interactive stations where you can experiment with gesture-controlled OLED screens to learn about different training equipment. In the World Watches gallery, you can chat virtually with athletes and ask them questions! You’ll even be able to train like an athlete where you can try six different sport interactives, including a 30-meter dash, alpine skiing, archery, goalball, skeleton, and sled hockey. Put your skills to the test and measure your reaction time, balance, and accuracy as you compete against your friends and family.

interactive display at the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs CO

2. Legacy

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a beautiful new addition to Colorado Springs’ rich Olympic legacy. Colorado Springs is home to the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC), headquarters for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and headquarters for 24 additional National Governing Bodies. More than 10,000 athletes per year train in Colorado Springs at the USOPTC’s world-class facilities. The USOPTC is also home to dozens of annual sports competitions and tournaments. Now visitors can add the brand-new U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum to their itineraries to celebrate human potential and achievement!

3. Architecture & Accessible Design

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is one of only four buildings in the U.S. to be named to Architectural Digest’s list of 2020’s most anticipated buildings. The structure’s shape evokes the bending, twisting, and flexing of an athlete in motion. Inside, the galleries are organized around a continuous spiral pathway, and inclusive design and assistive technologies ensure that visitors of all abilities can interact with exhibit content. From mobile apps and audio description tracks to RFID-triggered content, the architects and designers prioritized accessibility and inclusiveness throughout the space.

A woman in a wheelchair views exhibits inside the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs CO

4. Unexpected Surprises

We don’t want to give too much away but look for a few fun surprises and unexpected details when you visit. For example, when standing in the atrium, if you look up at the observation platforms, the highest platform is the same distance that Bob Beamon leaped in his record-breaking 1968 long jump. Tour the paintings in the Museum’s art gallery to see many works by LeRoy Neiman, the official Olympic painter at five Olympic Games. Then look for the Neimanizer, an interactive experience where you can transform yourself into a LeRoy Neiman painting! It’s delightful and creative moments like these that will make your visit unforgettable.

5. Take Home a Souvenir

The Museum Shop offers a variety of exclusive museum merchandise for guests of all ages including clothing, accessories, and collectibles. Take home a piece of history to remember your visit to the museum. Best of all, guests can create a Personalized Digital Retail Experience with a digital try-on mirror as well as interactive displays featuring social media integration. This will be the first museum in the world to offer this type of experience using cutting edge technology.

Start planning your visit to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum today. Reserve your tickets and learn more here.