Take a Tour of the Olympic Museum

Come with us as we take a tour of the Olympic Museum in Lake Placid, NY!

The museum reopened in December 2022 after a renovation of the Olympic Center. The new Museum is a treasure trove of history featuring interactive exhibits, innovative displays, and North America’s second-largest Winter Olympic artifact collection. The Museum takes you on a journey from the first-ever Olympic Games to the present day. It covers memorable moments along the way, with a whole section dedicated to the 1980 Games so you can relive the magic that stamped Lake Placid in the history books forever. 

Olympic Firsts

When you enter the Olympic Center, you are greeted to your left by the hockey scoreboard from the 1980 Winter Olympics, and to your right, the entrance to the Olympic Museum. After paying to enter the museum ($15 for adults) you go through double doors and immediately jump into the history of the Olympics. 

You can watch a video and then read facts as you make your way from the first modern-day Olympic Games to the third Winter Olympics, the 1932 Games held in Lake Placid. 

Olympic Museum Entrance
Olympic Museum Lake Placid display

There is a section all about Lake Placid with facts and photos about the history of Lake Placid as a village and why it was the perfect location for the 1932 Games. You’ll also be able to look at some of the equipment that was used during the games, and ask yourself how in the world did anyone use that?!

Olympic Museum 1932 display

"Hard work beats talent...

when talent doesn’t work hard.” 

After making your way through the 1932 Olympic section, you will turn left and go into the “what it takes to be an Olympian” section. This is a fun section as it has multiple interactive exhibits! 

You can “ride” a bobsled, see what it’s like to fly down the ski jumps, and see if you can keep the pace of a speed skater. 

Olympic Museum bobsled experience
Olympic Museum poster display

Design and the Olympics

After looping through section two, you’ll make your way into the middle of the museum which is full of the arts of the Olympics. 

This was my personal favorite section. It has a wall of Olympic posters, a glass case of torches, a display of uniforms, and pins from all over the world. You could spend hours in the section alone just going through the posters and pins. 

Olympic Museum pin display
Olympic Museum clothing display

Fashion from the Games

1980s memorabilia.
And yes, the drawers open and contain more items!

Olympic Museum 1980 memorabilia

Do you believe in miracles?

Lake Placid is probably most well known for the 1980 Winter Olympics and the “Miracle on Ice” hockey game. This section of the museum lets you relive those nail-biting moments, as well as other highlights from the games. 

There are a number of great lookout spots to take in all the beautiful views! Some people will even bring a picnic lunch or snacks to enjoy at the summit. 

Olympic Museum 1980 hockey section
Olympic Museum 1980 hockey section

There is also a room where they replay highlights from the USA hockey games. You can sit and take in all the glory and imagine what it was like to be there watching history be made.

Olympic Museum 1980 hockey section
Olympic Museum map of past hosts
Olympic Museum list of past hosts

Olympic Legacy

As you make your way out of the Museum, there is a map so you can see the overview of all past host nations and the year they hosted the games.

You exit the museum into the gift shop so you can purchase shirts, glasses, books, and more to remember you visit to Lake Placid.

The Olympic Museum is a great family-friendly activity, especially if you’re looking for something indoors on a rainy or really hot day.

If you’re looking to visit multiple Olympic Venues, be sure to check out the Passport for savings!

Olympic Museum Gift Shop

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