Olympic medals, torches, and Miracle on Ice equipment on display in Lake Placid Olympic Museum
NBC5 took a guided tour of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, seeing Olympic torches, medals, uniforms, artifacts from the iconic 1980 Miracle on Ice and more
After the Winter Olympics are over in Milan Cortina, the Olympic energy will continue in Lake Placid, home to the games in 1932 and 1980. 1 of the drivers of visitation to the village is the famous Olympic Center there. It’s home to the Herb Brooks Arena, where the Miracle on Ice hockey game took place in 1980 when Team USA defeated the Soviets. The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is also inside. We got *** tour from museum director Courtney Bastian. Even if you’re *** longtime fan or just learning about the Olympic movement, I think there’s something in here that will inspire you to learn more and embody the Olympic movement and the values of excellence and friendship and respect. Now we’re into 1932. And this was the 3rd Winter Olympic Games, first time it was ever hosted in the United States, and we have some athlete highlights such as Sonja Henning. In 1932, only women could compete in figure skating, singles, and pairs. Seeing this. You really think how far technology has come. Technology, sporting equipment, even what materials are made out of. So I just gave 3 tours to field trips today in different schools, and the kids always point out how scary this looked and how the poles were made out of bamboo and the ice hockey sticks are just wood now they’re composite, so it’s really interesting to see how things have advanced over the years. So this is my favorite gallery. Is designed in the Olympics. *** lot of time people don’t really make the connection that art goes into every aspect of the Olympic Games with the posters, torches, medals, the mascots. So it’s really fun to see how different art movements have shaped over time and how we can compare 1924 in the Art Deco movement to something like 2018 and 2022, very minimalistic design. Will you one day have *** 2026 poster? Yep. We can add the 2026 poster and like our torches, this is our official torch case um, they’re all real torches. We’re part of the Olympic Museum Network, uh, which is *** network of museums worldwide that collaborate and connect with each other and we work closely with the International Olympic Committee to have access to the newer torches. So 2026 will be on the way and we’ll be getting that after the games. Wow, well, we’ll have to come back and see that. Yes, and we have 3 other torches too that will be on display that haven’t made it into the case yet. Yes, the torches are really *** symbol. Yes, so they represent peace and unity and also the different countries. Have different symbolism in their torch to represent their culture and also different messages of what they’re trying to convey on the torch relay. I love the way you’ve displayed them because they really can be experienced from 360 degrees. Yes. And then we have *** special program that we do at the museum weekly. It’s called Touch *** Torch, and we have some duplicate torches in our collection, so we’ll take one out of the archive and let visitors hold the torch and learn about the torch relays, and it’s fun when we go around and do outreach or visitors come who were torch relay runners, and there were 52 torch relay runners for 1980, uh, I believe it was one from every state. And plus Washington DC and Lake Placid, um, and some of them got to keep their torches, so I went to the Rotary of Plattsburgh and one of the women in the audience was like I was Rhode Island and I still have my torch so it’s pretty cool. This is what the relay runners would have worn. Yes, so the torchbearers wore this yellow outfit with the shoes and the little wings, and that was inspired by Hermes, the Greek messenger god. And then this little canister, after the flame was lit in Greece, they put the flame into this canister and then they could take it on the airplane and transport it to the different country. So these were sketches of the metal designs. Is this every. Winter Olympic medal. It’s, I don’t believe it’s every single one. I think we’re missing *** few, and we have another one that we just got, 1952 Oslo, that is going to be added to the case. These are like placids here in the middle. And it’s that Tiffany blue color on the ribbon, and that’s because Tiffany and Co. the jewelry designer, was the, uh, designer of the medals. Do you have *** 1932 medal down there on this end? 1932 is number 9, and that is *** bronze medal. People who come to the museum must just love. Getting the opportunity to be so close to Olympic medals. Yes, and it’s really fun too when school groups come through, and this might be their first experience up close with an artifact from the Olympic Games and Just seeing their eyes light up and then learn about the Olympic Games and whose medal this was and what they did to earn it, it’s really cool to see the amazement on their faces. This is as close as many of us will get to an Olympic medal. Yeah, exactly. This room is focused entirely on the 1980 Olympics. So that is Eric Haydn, and he won 5 gold medals in speed skating. And that had never happened before and hasn’t happened since. When I take my school groups through the museum, I try to emphasize how he won the gold medals in speed skating for long distance and sprint events, and as an athlete that is incredibly difficult to do. He’s an incredible athlete and his sister Beth Hayden was here at the Olympics also in 1980. And her skates are on display over here and Beth took home the bronze medal in speed skating. So between the Hayden siblings they had 6 Olympic medals from the games, and then he went on to only take 1 sponsorship brand, and that was for Crest toothpaste, and it helped him pay his way through medical school and now he’s an orthopedic surgeon. That’s incredible. yep, and he also competed in the Tour de France. This is our miracle display. Wow. *** lot of hockey fans come here to Lake Placid to relive the miracle, and when they see that we have some of the real equipment on display, we have *** silver medal over in the corner. They love it. It’s really immersive and brings back. So many memories. There’s *** couple of accounts of the Soviet team leaving their silver medals behind. So after the award ceremony they were supposed to take their medals back to the engravers to get their names engraved on them. Some of them didn’t take their medals back and ended up leaving them in hotel rooms and left them behind because they were expected to go home with gold and they ended up with silver. Just some of the stories the museum tells, and *** new permanent exhibit there called Snow on Demand explores the science of snowmaking and how warming winters are impacting winter sports in communities like Lake Placid. It also takes *** look back at the snow drought that led up to the 1980 Winter Olympics, which were the first Olympic Games to rely on snowmaking. That technology is credited with basically saving the day with those snow-dependent events 46 years ago, and the approach to snowmaking has only improved since then. The museum director says she hopes snow on demand brings *** fresh learning opportunity for students and other visitors. Just outside the museum by the famous Miracle on Ice scoreboard panel, *** group of dedicated community members and hockey fans have unveiled *** new statue honoring the legendary hockey coach Herb Brooks. Brooks led his underdog team of Americans to victory over the Soviets in the 1980 games, then on to gold. Speakers at *** recent celebration pointed out that the Miracle on Ice has continued to benefit Lake Placid for decades in the form of sports history memories and pop culture awareness that still have people interested in visiting the place where it all happened. The late coach’s children spoke at the dedication. This place is special. It’s magical. It’s even enchanted. I felt it as *** 12 year old in 1980. I felt it in 2005 when the arena was named after my dad, and I sure feel it now. My dad, it wasn’t about statues for him. It was never about him. It was always for the kids and for the love of the game. And when Danny was talking, I like *** picture where all the kids walking through and this gives them something to believe in and, and something to look forward to in their careers and. I, I was here yesterday and watching all these kids and wearing USA jerseys. For me this is for the children. Defenseman Jack O’Callaghan from the 1980 team spoke at the unveiling, recalling how proud his teammates were to be led by such *** special and inspirational coach, something he said he thinks about just about every day. *** fundraising campaign is underway to install *** separate monument just outside the Olympic Center. The plan is to unveil it by 2030 in time for the 50th anniversary of the hockey game that changed history for Lake Placid. The red building that used to house *** restaurant is scheduled to be demolished. It’ll be replaced with *** park and *** dramatic life-sized bronze statue of the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team. It’s going to be called *** monument to *** Miracle. *** nonprofit group is now working to raise several million dollars to make this happen. And to establish *** long-term maintenance fund. According to the Friends of the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team, the addition should create an impressive site outside the Olympic Center. I’ve worked here for 38 years and you know we always were like where’s the front entrance? Where’s the main door to this uh building and uh this I think will now define the location of where you need to enter this building is coming up through that park um past the monument and uh into this historic building. We are looking forward to, um, large donations. Obviously, that angel investor, um, and donor that we’re hoping will come along, but, uh, it’s been fun because people are writing with their stories, sending in $19.80 checks, telling us what that moment meant to them and how it affected their lives. Um, so that’s been *** really interesting part of this whole journey is, is hearing from people across the nation. Um, and, and what this moment meant to them. The effort will also see the creation of *** statue honoring Eric Haydn, the Olympic speed skater who you heard about in our museum tour, who won that incredible 5 gold medals at the 1980 games. The inclusion of the Haydn statue in the project came at the request of the 1980 men’s hockey team and will eventually overlook the speed skating oval in Lake Placid. New York’s Olympic Regional Development Authority or OA says all the attention on the Winter Olympics in Italy should pay dividends for Lake Placid moving forward. ORA says the village always sees *** boost in visits during Olympic years, but it is proud to be busy all year long, every year with events like youth hockey, figure skating events, outdoor skating, World Cup competitions, or the Empire State Winter Games. Lake Placid is all of our venues are still active, right? You go to *** lot of Olympic cities and unfortunately they’re no longer able to host because it’s so expensive for them to run their venues. We’ve got *** great commitment from the state of New York to be able to keep these venues up, welcome our customers here and our guests here year round, hockey tournaments and figure skating at the Olympic Center, aerials and ski jumping out at the ski jumps. You’ve got luge, skeleton. Bobsled cross Country World Cup out at Mount Van Hoevenburg, like we’re still welcoming the world here on *** daily basis, and that’s how we stay so connected to our history and tradition and the Olympics. He went on to say that Lake Placid is fortunate that its story is continually retold, like through the new Netflix documentary Miracle The Boys of 80 and the recent visit by Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live fame to Lake Placid. To try bobsledding for NBC’s coverage of the Olympics in Milan Cortina. All that attention keeps Lake Placid top of mind for visitors. Orda says. *** question some in the North Country are asking more frequently these days could the Olympics one day return to New York, perhaps divided between the Adirondacks and the large venues in New York City, like how the 2026 games were held in two cities, Milan and Cortina? Sofia Falbo has that story. With the success of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, some Northern New Yorkers are hoping for another city village partnership to host the Winter Olympic Games in our region. The great Alpine facilities in Lake Placid and *** major metropolitan city like New York with major arenas there, we think this concept is worth looking into. Former Assemblyman Billy Jones has been working with Brooklyn Assemblyman Robert Carroll for the past 3. Years Together they want to find *** way to bring the Winter Olympics back to New York State. What we’re asking for is an exploratory committee to look into all the logistics and everything that goes along with that, and they’re not the only ones with *** dream. Maybe the Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. Jones says both New York City and Lake Placid. Most of the infrastructure in place, citing facilities like Madison Square Garden and Mount Van Hoevenburg that already host world-class events. It would be great for the region. Obviously it would help the economy. Jones’ successor, Assemblyman Michael Cashman, says there would be significant investments statewide if the Winter Olympics were brought back here. It’s going to look and feel different than it did in 1980, let’s be honest, right? But one of the things that it provides is not only national. And local pride. It also provides us an opportunity to get infrastructure that is critically needed here in the North Country. Officials from the Olympic Regional Development Authority say this is an idea they’ve been floating for decades. There’s just this Olympic spirit here that lives here 365 days *** year. We don’t need to build *** new bobsled track. We don’t need to build this and that. It’s already here. Milan and NYC are both bustling cities about *** 5 hour car ride. From Cortina and Lake Placid respectively, Jones says it’s an idea people beyond New York will be excited about. We are one state here marrying these two regions to hold *** world-class venue like the Olympics. While this could not be *** possibility for the 2030 Winter Olympics. North Country leaders are hoping it can be *** reality for the 2038 or 2042 Olympics. In the Plattsburgh newsroom, Sofia Falbo, NBC 5 News.
Olympic medals, torches, and Miracle on Ice equipment on display in Lake Placid Olympic Museum
NBC5 took a guided tour of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, seeing Olympic torches, medals, uniforms, artifacts from the iconic 1980 Miracle on Ice and more
Long after the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics have ended, the Olympic energy will continue for years to come in Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. The Olympic Center in the village is a major draw, both hosting sporting events and offering visitors a chance to get up close and personal with Olympic history.”The beauty of Lake Placid is all of our venues are still active,” Chadd Cassidy of the Olympic Regional Development Authority said on NBC5 In Depth. “You go to a lot of Olympic cities and unfortunately, they’re no longer able to host because it’s so expensive for them to run their venues. We’ve got a great commitment from the State of New York to be able to keep these venues up and welcome our guests here year-round.”Cassidy said major events like the famous “Miracle on Ice” win by Team USA over the Soviet Union hockey team in 1980 mean Lake Placid’s story is continually retold. Recently, the village gained widespread attention from the release of the new Netflix documentary “Miracle: The Boys of ’80” and a recent visit by Colin Jost of “Saturday Night Live” to try bobsledding as part of NBC’s coverage of the Olympics.Another way visitors connect with the legacy of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid is through touring the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. NBC5 In Depth offered viewers a guided tour of the destination, led by museum director Courtney Bastian.”It’s really fun when school groups come through,” Bastian said. “This might be their first experience up close with an artifact from the Olympic Games. It’s really cool to see the amazement on their faces.”This week’s episode of NBC5 In Depth also expanded on recent coverage of the installation of a new statue honoring Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks and the work now underway to create a new monument to the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team.Watch the video atop this article for the full segment on Lake Placid’s history and future that aired on the Feb. 22 episode of NBC5 In Depth.Previous coverage: Sculpting a ‘Monument to a Miracle’ for Lake Placid
Long after the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics have ended, the Olympic energy will continue for years to come in Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. The Olympic Center in the village is a major draw, both hosting sporting events and offering visitors a chance to get up close and personal with Olympic history.
“The beauty of Lake Placid is all of our venues are still active,” Chadd Cassidy of the Olympic Regional Development Authority said on NBC5 In Depth. “You go to a lot of Olympic cities and unfortunately, they’re no longer able to host because it’s so expensive for them to run their venues. We’ve got a great commitment from the State of New York to be able to keep these venues up and welcome our guests here year-round.”
Cassidy said major events like the famous “Miracle on Ice” win by Team USA over the Soviet Union hockey team in 1980 mean Lake Placid’s story is continually retold. Recently, the village gained widespread attention from the release of the new Netflix documentary “Miracle: The Boys of ’80” and a recent visit by Colin Jost of “Saturday Night Live” to try bobsledding as part of NBC’s coverage of the Olympics.
Another way visitors connect with the legacy of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid is through touring the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. NBC5 In Depth offered viewers a guided tour of the destination, led by museum director Courtney Bastian.
“It’s really fun when school groups come through,” Bastian said. “This might be their first experience up close with an artifact from the Olympic Games. It’s really cool to see the amazement on their faces.”
This week’s episode of NBC5 In Depth also expanded on recent coverage of the installation of a new statue honoring Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks and the work now underway to create a new monument to the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team.
Watch the video atop this article for the full segment on Lake Placid’s history and future that aired on the Feb. 22 episode of NBC5 In Depth.
Previous coverage: Sculpting a ‘Monument to a Miracle’ for Lake Placid
