The United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum

Where do we honor the legends of Olympic and Paralympic history? At the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado! Architect Elizabeth Diller uses dynamic, swooping lines for the exterior of the building to symbolize a discus thrower in motion. The aluminum exterior is made of nearly 9,000 diamond-shaped panels.

Inside, a spiral ramp winds around three floors of exhibitions and galleries. There are no stairs in the building, reflecting the museum’s central philosophy of inclusivity. Other accessible features include tactile display keypads, audio descriptions, and captions and American Sign Language throughout the museum.

The Introduction to the Games gallery provides a history of the Games from the 8th century B.C. to the 21st century. A physical timeline of Olympic torches, a symbol of the Games, is the centerpiece of this gallery. The torch made its first appearance at the 1936 Berlin Games. Since then the Torch Relay has become an event in its own right. Thousands of athletes take turns carrying the torch on its journey from Olympia, Greece, to the host city, to light the Olympic cauldron. The Torch Relay signals the beginning of the Games.

Down the ramp, the Lab demonstrates how science and technology have helped athletes maximize performance, from spiked shoes to aerodynamic textiles. Interactive displays offer hands-on experiences, like designing a sneaker. The Lab also highlights technologies athletes use to maximize recovery. The Lab houses must-see artifacts from Olympic and Paralympic history. Michael Johnson wore the custom gold Nikes, above, when he broke the world record for the 200-meter race by 0.34 seconds at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Visitors can also see Amanda McGrory’s iconic pink racing wheelchair and Paralympian Scout Bassett’s prosthetic leg.

No one makes it to the Olympics without preparation! In the Athlete Training gallery, six interactive activities allow visitors to test their skills. People can check their speed with a running simulator, practice their aim with virtual archery, and hone their mental visualization skills by memorizing maneuvers in a sequence to reach the bottom of a ski hill. “Goalball” uses motion tracking to assess reflex and reaction time. In “Strategy,” visitors can decide a sled hockey player’s next move, and in “Balance,” visitors can test their balance by peering over the top of a bobsled track.