Come see Olympic History!
From the museum's collection of the world's oldest known shoes to the innovations in running shoes developed by Bill Bowerman, Phil Knight, and Nike since the 1960s, it’s clear that the University of Oregon is the place to be for track and field enthusiasts around the world.
That’s why the Museum of Natural and Cultural History is proud to be a part of celebrating the 2012 Olympic Trials by hosting Jim Thorpe’s gold medals from the 1912 Olympic Trials. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Thorpe’s historic achievements in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, winning both the pentathlon and the decathlon.
Thorpe, widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, is still the only athlete ever to achieve this feat. And while he was temporarily stripped of his Olympic medals, Thorpe’s contributions to the world of sports cannot be diminished.
Come by the museum today and learn more about this fascinating athlete, his lifelong contributions to sports and his work to promote Native rights.
Thorpe’s medals will be on display from June 13 – July 8, 2012.