Jesse Owens Museum to unveil new 1936 Olympics exhibit

The Jesse Owens Museum in Morgan County, Alabama, will unveil a new display on August 29 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Jesse Owens’ historic performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The exhibit will feature new photographs and memorabilia donated by Russ Opdahl and Justin Burns. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the museum plans to host various activities, including Olympic-style games for children.

The 1936 Olympics were marked by significant political tension as Adolf Hitler’s government implemented discriminatory laws against non-Aryan races. During the games, Owens secured four gold medals in the 100-meter dash, long jump, 200-meter dash, and the 4x100-meter relay.