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Jesse Owens Museum

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NiteOwlTX
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5 out of 5
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5
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Jesse Owens Museum

  • March 24, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by NiteOwlTX from LaPlace, Louisiana
Jesse Owens Museum

Twelve years before Jackie Robinson broke into professional baseball and many more years before African American athletes were considered equals in professional sports, Jesse Owens dominated the Olympic games. In 1936, the games were hosted by a pre-World War II Germany with Hitler standing watch. Promising the world Aryan supremacy, Adolf Hitler watched as a black man, born from sharecroppers in northern Alabama, became the games' sensation, capturing four Olympic gold medals. Owens won gold medals in long jump, 100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint, and the 400-meter team relay. Despite the fact that he congratulated white athletes from other countries, Hitler refused to acknowledge Owens' wins and would not shake his hand at the medal ceremony.

Jesse Owens was born here in northern Alabama. He was one of ten children of a sharecropper. While he moved to Ohio as a child, he maintained ties to this area. During the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Owens' grandson carried the torch to this park.

The museum begins with a small collection of artifacts from Owens' career, including the jerseys that he wore in college. There is an interactive computer here that plays various scenes where Owens appeared on television prior to the Olympics.

Next in the museum is a small theater. Here they play a film that lasts almost an hour about the 1936 Olympic games. The film, narrated by Owens, chronicles the games from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony. He individually describes the events in which he competed. He also goes on to tell about the friendship that he had with a German competitor, who actually advised him before his record setting long jump.

Finally, the museum goes to show Owens' post Olympic games activities, including a trip that he had back to Germany years after his victories there. He meets the grandson of the German man that he credits for his victory in the long jump.

Outside the museum, there are also some interesting attractions. First, there is a replica of the 1936 Olympic torch standing in front of the museum. Also, there is a memorial statue of Owens and the Olympic symbol; see the pictures below. Finally, in the park there is a replica of Jesse Owens' birthplace, a small cabin that sharecroppers would have had during the period.

Also, in the park, you will find a baseball diamond, a soccer field, a running track, a basketball court, and a nice playground. There are also areas for picnicking.

Since this museum is a little off the beaten path, you should call ahead to ensure it is open before you plan to arrive. The staff will make plans to be there if you call ahead to say you are coming.

I recommend a trip to Jesse Owens Museum for anyone traveling in the area. The story is very inspiring and the Owens museum tells the story very well. Everyone should see this site.

Website: www.jesseowensmuseum.com

From journal A Hard Nut to Crack

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