When the Olympic flame is doused at the end of this summer’s Games in Brazil, Atlanta’s own Olympics musuem will shut down too.
Unlike the two-week-long "Games of the XXXI Olympiad," though, the Centennial Olympic Games Museum will be coming back. The Atlanta History Center, home to the one-of-a-kind exhibition space dedicated to the Summer Olympics held here in 1996, will temporarily close on August 22 so it can make important improvements to its West Paces Ferry Road campus.
And at least one of those will directly affect the decade-old Olympics museum: Along with allowing for construction of a hallway leading to the Lloyd and Mary Whitaker Cyclorama building following that famed attraction’s move from Grant Park, the brief shutdown will allow the AHC to create a new exhibition focused on the ‘96 Games from a two-decades-later perspective.
“Planning and fund-raising for this new exhibition are ongoing, with reopening targeted for a date to be determined in 2017,” the AHC said.
[ Yes, London, the Olympics were held in Atlanta. Really! ]
That's a good enough reason in itself to visit the Centennial Olympic Games Museum now. But here are a few more: This summer is the 20th anniversary of the Atlanta Olympics, an incredible achievement that will be marked with a giant public party in Centennial Olympic Park on July 16. Touring the museum is an ideal way to relive that 1996 experience through its fascinating trove of artifacts and exhibits, not to mention becoming the Centennial Games smartypants in your group.
And with its indepth focus on the origins and history of the Olympic movement, as well as the underdog movement that brought the Centennial Games to America’s Deep South for the first time, the musuem also provides valuable perspective going into the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 - 21.
[ Party like it's 1996: Big Atlanta Olympics celebration here in July ]
The Atlanta History Center's also hosting a daylong 20th anniversary celebration of '96 Games on the Saturday before things kick off in Rio. At "Going for Gold," which takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 30, visitors can tour the museum, meet real Olympians and try their hand at various Olympic sports for a chance to 1996 Olympic memorabilia. For more information or to purchase admission tickets, visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Family.
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