By Josh Barr
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is the No. 2 thing to do and the No. 1 museum in Colorado Springs as of early October, according to TripAdvisor.
The Museum, which opened on July 30, is dedicated to U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their compelling stories, with the artifacts, media and technology behind the athletes who make the United States proud. Tickets are on sale now to visit the 60,000-square foot Museum, which focuses on the core values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements: friendship, respect and excellence; determination, equality, inspiration and courage.
“It is exciting to see the reception we have received from guests, read their reviews and listen to the feedback,” Museum Chief Executive Officer Christopher Liedel said. “For having been open less than two months and to already climb to No. 2 on TripAdvisor is truly humbling. It is a testament to our world-class Museum and staff, and it is great to know our guests feel the same way.”
After receiving their Visitor Credential and entering the Museum, an elevator takes all guests to the top floor. From there, a ramped path winds progressively downward to the main floor creates a parallel visit experience for all guests on the journey through 12 interactive galleries that include several interactive exhibits where guests of all ages can compete against Olympians and Paralympians.
The Museum is one of the most accessible museums in the world, designed so all guests experience the Museum the same way. Some of the inclusive designs and assistive technologies include open captions, audio-description tracks, assisted listening, universal keypads, RFID-triggered customizations, accessible exhibit spaces with ramped experiences and more. Team USA athletes were involved and consulted throughout the project to achieve our goal of authentic experience and inclusive design. The Museum is ADA compliant throughout.
