Jesse Owens Museum — Local services in Alabama

This easy-to-get-to facility is an excellent place to take family, friends, and students of all ages. They don't charge big city fees; just contribute what you feel is reasonable for the wonderful experience.

It is best to start your tour by watching the 40 minutes or so video narrative by Jesse Owens himself. The video was recorded in the same Olympic Stadium in Berlin years after the 1936 Olympic Games during which Jesse Owens shattered world records and won a record four Gold medals right before Adolf Hitler's eyes!

The museum is well-organized by time line to give the guests a great educational experience. There are quite a few short video clips on various topics of special interest to visitors. Just press the icon of your interest on one of the monitors, and listen/watch. Yes, it is that personalized! After all, people from all over the world come to Alabama to see and experience this beautiful jewel.

While here, don't forget to take a tour of the replica of the small house in which the Owens family of 12 lived before moving from Alabama to Ohio in 1922. It's amazing that someone from such a humble beginning could go on to accomplish greatness of unimaginable proportions!

Having fallen in love with the Jesse Owens Memorial Park and Museum on my first visit, I have returned many times. I always take other people (and my camera) with me each time I go. This amazing 21st century Park and Museum speaks to the "can do" spirit of well-meaning people in the community and state. They made it possible; and they continue to add more attractions. They bring to life what happened in our world over 100 years ago. Lest I forget, the long jump (aka broad jump) pit complete with distance markers, including Jesse Owens' gold medal jump is one of the coolest attractions in the park. Whoever came up with the idea must be a genius. It's fun to watch visitors try their "long jump" skills!

The staff members are as friendly and helpful as they are knowledgeable about the history of the facility. This is where you find Southern Hospitality! It's hard to not buy a few items from the gift shop since it is well stocked with quality merchandise at amazingly...

I was surprised when I got museum that there is a $5 charge which is not listed on the site. I paid but informed volunteer by name of Pat that this needs to be listed on their site. She got nasty with me and said they will not list fee is due for entry. She got all in face started bragging about her husband and the cost they had spent on brochures which stated"donation accepted". Pat told me obviously I did not the money to spent and proceeded to start sticking her finger in my face. I told Pat if she did not back off from me there was going to be a problem. She hollered at me telling me the public can find out about the entry fee when the come. I told her this misleading and deceptive. She took money out of the register and was going to throw it at me. An employee stopped here. This woman is an volunteer and even though she works at a place honoring a Black man, felt cause I was Black I could not afford the fee because I questioned the lack of advertising for the fee. This person does not need to be there, and if there is a cost update tour advertisements to reflect that. I enjoyed the museum abd learning more about Jesse Owens. But racist, unstable people should not be working there and being combative to customers. Pat needs to be fired for her...

This museum closes at 4 pm. I recommend giving yourself two hours, if possible to get the full benefit of the tour. We viewed an exceptional movie narrated by Jesse Owens himself about the Olympic Games in 1936 in Nazi Germany where he won four gold medals. There were several displays detailing Jesse’s life from childhood through to later life when he advocated globally for the role of sport in race relations. The museum is situated in a large park, surrounded by farms, once the site of his family’s sharecropper cabin. A replica of the three room cabin, where Jesse and his nine brothers and sisters lived with his parents, is also part of the tour. Our docent, Karen, was friendly, welcoming, and informative. A truly educational and inspiring museum! Highly...