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We, here at the national headquarters of the United States Ski Association and Hall of Fame officials, have long felt the need for a book which would contain an early history of our organization along with a record of the achievements of the people who have shaped our growth.

With the encouragement and help of the late Burton Boyum, past curator of the National Ski Hall of Fame; the late Harold Grinden, Chairman of the Hall of Fame; I have tried to fulfill this need.  Here you will find histories of the various divisions of the USSA, listings of past officers and directors, list of awards, honors and records, and sources of ski information.  It is our intention to issue a supplement each year to keep this material up to date.

We know that this book will help us tremendously in our day to day work here in the office.  Each day brings inquiries by phone and mail for some of the information you will find here.

We feel that the many hours spent compiling and editing this information will be worthwhile if it will also help ou and give you a better understanding of the persons and events that have shaped the history of skiing in the United States.

Attached is the full document in PDF form.  -- Gloria Chadwick, 1970. 

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Article by John Fry

The Beekley International Collection of Skiing Art & Literature,  contains 200 exquisite paintings and sculptures of skiers; 600 posters, some of which now auction for as much as $10,000; magazine covers dating back to the 19th century; unique etchings and lithographs; 2,400 ski pins and stamps; and one of the world’s largest libraries of ski books.

This colorful, impressive collection was long held privately in New Hartford, Connecticut by the late Mason Beekley, a wealthy entrepreneur and founder of the International Skiing History Association. Beekley, who died in 2001 at the age of 74, painstakingly and lovingly assembled ski books and graphics over a half-century of collecting.

Beekley, who first skied when he was a youngster at boarding school in his native Connecticut, began collecting when he was a student at Princeton. He started with a book, Skiing, which he bought for 25 cents at Smith College’s book store. After graduating from Princeton in 1949, he taught and coached skiing at an Eastern prep school, then joined his inventor-father’s hospital-services business. The pay wasn’t much. But even with little money, he was able to amass a voluminous library of ski books. He found them in used book stores and by scouring auctions. “I spent an average of less than $5 a book on my first thousand books,” he said in a magazine interview.

Beekley was a gregarious and convivial man. . .  and wildly optimistic. He habitually began each day by loudly and joyously singing Rogers and Hammerstein’s Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Oh What a Beautiful Day! He also happened to possess a bulldog persistence and a curious mind. When his family’s business turned flat in the late 1970s, Beekley looked to new ventures. He came to realize that doctors and radiologists needed a more reliable way to interpret x-rays, so he began to market tiny lead-containing patches that would stick on the patient’s skin. The markers would be visible after the x-ray pictures were developed, like locators on a map. They brought an immediate improvement in mammography. Today, a couple of million “Beekley Spots” are used monthly in x-ray rooms across North America.

With the business flourishing, Beekley now had serious money to fuel his collecting passion. He turned to oil paintings, early lithographs and prints. “I have only two criteria in buying,” he once confessed. “There must be a skier in the illustration, and I must like it.”

Cartons of books and magazines arrived at The Parsonage, his rambling 150-year-old, 12-room New England home on a hill above New Hartford, Conn. So great was the influx that his wife feared the second floor of the house would collapse under the weight, so in 1993 he built a 2,200-square-foot museum next door, naming it Ski Aerie.

With a museum to fill, his collecting took on an obsessive pace. Beekley began to show up at Christie’s and Swann Galleries poster auctions in London and New York. “On nearly every lot he wanted, Beekley’s paddle remained raised, driving out the competition,” reported an antiques journal of a 1999 poster auction.

If Beekley was not going to be there in person, he placed early bids that other buyers would be unlikely to top. In scarcely a half dozen years from 1993 through 1999, he acquired more than 600 posters from 17 countries—the earliest one dating back to 1890. “Mason Beekley virtually created the market in posters,” says Nicholas Lowry, president of New York’s Swann Galleries.

Two works purchased by Beekley dramatically portray skiing’s change over a hundred years —from utilitarian winter transport to entertaining wintertime diversion. In one of the earliest known American paintings of a skier—an 1873 oil by an artist known only as JHA—a weary farmer heads homeward on skis across his snow-covered pastures. What a contrast it presents to Hot Dog!—a wild portrayal of a 1977 freestyle skier made of glass and aluminum and painted with oils, acrylics and colored pencil by Ricky Bernstein, a Massachusetts artist known for his ironic, caustic commentaries on present-day lifestyles.

Beekley turned to oil paintings, early lithographs and prints. “I have only two criteria in buying,” he once confessed. “There must be a skier in the illustration, and I must like it.” He bought works by Churchill Ettinger, Paul Sample, Sheldon Pennoyer and by the prolific sports artist Leroy Nieman. He loved the big mountain canvases of Eric Sloane, with their formidable cloud formations. A favorite Sloane subject was Tuckerman Ravine at Mt. Washington during its heyday as the Northeast’s spring skiing mecca.

Pop art was a favorite of the Connecticut collector. He acquired the original art of scantily clad pinup girls wearing ski hats or holding a pair of ski poles. A painting done for a popular science magazine depicts a skiing soldier of the future propelled across snow by a giant motorized fan attached to his back. There are ads that used skiing to sell Camel cigarettes and Edsel cars. Beekley purchased a pen-and-ink color calendar illustration by Laurent de Brunhoff of Babar, one of the most famous figures in children’s literature. The little elephant is performing a jump on skis for Queen Celeste.

Beekley began acquiring ski prints 50 years ago, and they span every variety of the printer’s art, from silk-screens to linocuts. Some 400 images by photographers include the work of Ansel Adams, Leni Riefenstahl, Ray Atkeson, Toni Frissel and Winston Pote. During a 1990 Aspen ski vacation, he met American skiing icon Dick Durrance. Both Durrance and his wife Miggs were outstanding photographers, and Beekley added their work to his collection. 

While many skiers collect pins, Beekley’s collection is staggering in size. An array of 2,400 ski pins from 52 countries are displayed in frame-mounted wall hangings, acquired from the Toronto collector Bruce Carnall. He collected ski postage stamps. He bought the collection of former SKI Magazine editor John Henry Auran, giving him 585 postage stamps from 53 countries bearing images of skiers and skiing. “To tell you the truth,” he confessed to Auran, “I’m more interested in the art on stamps than the philately.”

The Beekley library contains 2,110 books and as many booklets and periodicals, from 25 countries. There are English and Danish editions of Fridtjof Nansen’s account of his 1888 crossing of Greenland on skis, the book that first made the world aware of what had been a little known Scandinavian sport. There is a copy of Austrian Matthias Zdarsky’s 1896 Lilienfelder Skilauf-Teknik, the earliest influential book of downhill ski technique. Another, by Vivien Caulfeild – How to Ski, and How Not to, published in 1911-- is one of the first ski instruction books written in the English language. There are books by virtually all of the sport’s creators -- Arnold Lunn, Hannes Schneider, Emile Allais, Otto Lang and the legendary Otto Schniebs, author of the famous quip, “Skiing is not a sport, it is a lifestyle.”

Beekley became concerned about finding a permanent home for his collection in 1998, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He initially focused on Aspen, but the community there was not prepared to commit to the expense of creating a building to house the works, and of a curator and security needed to permit public viewing. Other resorts knew of the collection’s potential homelessness, but none was willing to make the necessary investment. Meanwhile, Beekley’s health worsened. He saw chaos lying ahead -- the dissolution of his beloved collection of art and books. In 2001, when filmmaker Warren Miller became aware of Beekley’s difficulties, he contacted Mammoth Mountain President Rusty Gregory who, with the support of the resort’s founder, Dave McCoy, acted swiftly and decisively to create a museum.

The doors to the Collection at Mammoth Lakes unfortunately closed in 2011. Presently warehoused in Denver, the Collection is seeking a new home. 

See sample images at the Beekley Collection website.

 

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Ski Museums of the World 2018

Updated March, 2021

By E. John B. Allen

Of the 128 nations (up from 110 in 2012) that belong to the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), 21 have established museums focusing on the history of skiing. Some are entirely devoted to skiing; some are part of a small, local museum; others are simply one section within a broader collection of folk material; and a few private collections are listed. The dozens of ski museums and libraries in this list are not all of a kind—but for skiers and snowboarders interested in the rich heritage of what we now call “snowsports,” any would merit a visit.

Skis were on public view as early as 1655, but the first dedicated ski museum was founded in Norway in 1923 and is now in its 95th year, still remaining in the same area at Holmenkollen, bordering Oslo’s own skiing grounds, the Nordmarka. But the huge majority of museums are post-World War II creations, many initiated by individuals like Theodor Hüttenegger in Mürzzuschlag, Austria, and Gilbert Merlin in Grenoble, France. In the United States, many ski museums were started by individuals but then, in an effort to raise money, transformed into Halls of Fame. American museums are all private ventures, although a few may receive some government funding at the local, regional or national level.

Ski heritage and its preservation rely heavily on specialized libraries, many of them an integral part of a museum. Others are beholden to an institution of learning, such as the library of the Deutsche Sporthochschule, the German Sports University in Cologne. Other leading resources include the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its massive Olympic museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the FIS, which has sponsored a half-dozen conferences on the history of skiing.

From amassing “a bunch of old stuff” in the early days, ski museums have made significant progress in recent years with computerized collection management and archival treatments of wood and cloth, film and photographs, documents and art. The online “digital museum” or “virtual museum” is the latest trend, consisting solely of a Website-based collection of images and information. At the moment, the two most successful online-only collections are the Austrian Olympic Committee’s museum and Luzi Hitz’ and Pierre Schneider’s “Swiss History of Skiing” museum. This sophisticated approach requires major financial support. Europeans have to persuade their municipalities, county and national governments to send Euros in their direction, while Americans try hard to increase membership to finance and improve their museums and libraries.

Over the past 42 years, I have visited many ski-related museums; for an historian, there is nothing like seeing the actual artifacts. Many of the museums have specialized libraries and are invaluable for anyone interested in following the old ski tracks. It was a natural project for me to publish a list for other interested parties. The list, last updated in 2012, had 119 entries; this new one contains 151—the latest addition being the archive of the Ski Club of Great Britain that was added to the Special Collections of De Montfort University in Leicester in February 2018. There are a further half-dozen museums waiting in the wings or in storage.

As ski travelers and students of ski history, I hope you will find it useful. But be warned: Some of the information came from websites or e-mail correspondence, information that can easily change. It is always wise to contact the museum ahead of a visit, and a requirement for anyone working on a research project. —E. John B. Allen

 

AUSTRALIA

Mount Buller, Victoria

National Alpine Museum of Australia, Inc.

Level 1 Alpine Central, Summit Road, Mt. Buller, Victoria 3723

Curator: Michelle Stevenson

E-mail: info@nama.org

Tel: +61 418 976 338

Website: www.nama.org.au

Open Winter: Saturday 12.00 – 15.00

Open Summer: Saturday 11.00 – 15.00.  Every second Thursday 11.00 – 15.00.

Admission: Free

 

Thredbo, New South Wales

Thredbo Ski Museum

Thredbo Historical Society, P.O. Box 6, Thredbo, NSW 2625

Contact: Christina Webb

E-mail: via website

Tel: +61 2 9449 7610

Website: www.thredboskimuseum.com

Open: 26 December – 26 January (closed Mondays)

            February, March, April, October weekends and public holidays

            July - September daily (closed Mondays)

            Call for hours

 Closed: May, November, December 1 – 25

Admission: Free

 

 

AUSTRIA

Damüls, Vorarlberg

FIS Skimuseum Damüls

Kirchdorf 138, 6884 Damüls

Director/Curator: Christian Lingenhöle

E-mail: info@damuels.travel

Tel: +43 5510 6200

Website: www.damuels.travel

Open: December—April, and June—September: Tuesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Closed: May, October, November

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Vorarlberg skiing and ski production and competition. Victor Sohm, Hannes Schneider, Georg Bilgeri featured.

 

Haus im Ennstal, Steiermark/Styria

Wintersportmuseum

Schlossplatz 189, 8967 Haus im Ennstal

Director: Willi Wawra

E-mail: wintersportmuseum@haus.at

Tel: +43 3686 2207-17

Website: www.haus.at/de/kultur/wintersportmuseum.php

Open: Tuesdays 10.00 – 12.00 and Wednesdays 16.30 – 20.30 and by appointment

Admission: €2 ($2.50), children: €1 ($1.25)

 

Hinterstoder, Oberösterreich/Upper Austria

Alpineum Hinterstoder

4573 Hinterstoder

Contact: Sabrina Plursch

E-mail: hinterstoder@pyhrn-priel.net

Tel: +43 7564 5263 99

Website: www.alpineum.at

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

           Weekends by arrangement

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2.20 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits showing change from mountain farm village to summer and winter tourism. Strong on local skiing with downhill simulator and avalanche detector exhibits.

 

Hirschegg, Vorarlberg

Wintersportmuseum im Walserhaus

Walserhaus, Walserstrasse 64, 6992 Hirschegg

E-mail: info@walserhaus.at

Tel: +43 5517 5114 460

Website: www.walserhaus.at

Open: Monday-Saturday 9.00—17.00.  Sundays and holidays 8.00—15.00

Admission: Free

 

Hochpillberg, Tirol

Schimuseum Hotel Grafenast

Bio-Hotel Grafenast, Pillbergstrasse 205, 6130 Hochpillberg

E-mail: sehnsucht@grafenast.at

Tel: +43 5242 63209

Website: www.grafenast.at

Open: By appointment

Admission: Free

Private collection of the Unterlechner family.

 

 

Lilienfeld, Nieder Österreich/Lower Austria

Bezirks-Heimatmuseum mit Zdarsky-Skimuseum und Archiv

Babenbergerstrasse 3, 3180 Lilienfeld

Director: Heinz Eppensteiner

E-mail: tourismus@lilienfeld.at or bez.heimatmuseum-lilienfeld@aon.at

Tel: +43 2762 52478 or +43 2762 52478

Website: www.zdarsky-ski-museum.at

Open: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 16.00-18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Student €2.50 ($3)

Best museum for Mathias Zdarsky

 

Mürzzuschlag, Steiermark/Styria

Winter!Sport!Museum!

Wienerstrasse 13, 8680 Mürzzuschlag

Director: Hannes Nothnagl

E-mail: office@wintersportmuseum.com

Tel: +43 3852 3504

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.com    

NB:  Museum is being reorganized; probable reopening date is January 2019, admission hours and fees will be announced.

Large museum, excellent collections, good library.

 

Seefeld, Tirol

Olympic and Nostalgia Exhibition (1964, 1976 Winter Olympic Games) in the Rosshütte Panoramic Restaurant above Seefeld

E-mail: info@rosshuette.at

Tel: +43 5212 2416-0

Website: www.seefeld-sports.at                  

Open: call to find out dates and times

Admission: Free

 

St. Anton am Arlberg, Tirol

The Museum of St. Anton in the Kandahar Haus

Rudi-Matt-Weg 10, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg

E-mail: office@museum-stanton.com

Tel: +43 5446 22690

Website: www.museum-stanton.com

Open: Winter: 12.00—18.00.  Summer not announced (April 2018)

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2 ($2.50)

Local history.  Emphasis on Hannes Schneider period.

 

Werfenweng, Salzburg

Salzburger FIS Landes-Skimuseum

Weng 138, 5453 Weng

Director: Hans Müller

E-mail: info@skimuseum.at

Tel: +43 664 50 000 96

Website: www.werfenweng.eu/EN/129-FIS-Landes-Skimuseum.html

Open: May—October: Monday, Friday, Sunday 13.00-17.00

            November—April: Monday, Friday, Sunday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25). Senior/Student €3.50 ($4.50), Child €2.50 ($3) Family €10 ($12.50)

Local history with emphasis on Rudolf Lettner’s steel ski edges.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

 

Gröbming, Steiermark/Styria

Heimatmuseum Gröbming

Dr. Franz-Xavier-Mayr Strasse 123, 8962 Gröbming

Contact: Hubert Pleninger

E-mail: pleninger@aon.at

Tel: +43 664 960 5006 or +43 3685 22 573

Website: www.museum-gb.at

Open: From 18 June 2018—31 October: Thursday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 10.00—12.00.     

            Other times by appointment.

Admission: Free

Local museum including small regional ski development.

 

Jochberg, Tirol

Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum

Schulgasse 3, 6373 Jochberg

Curator: Anneliese Hechenberger

E-mail: info@museum-jochberg.at

Tel: +43 664 330 6302

Website: www.museum-jochberg.at

Open: Year round: Tuesday 17.00—19.00

            Group arrangements can be made for other times

Admission: Free

Small collection of ski material.

 

Kitzbühel, Tirol

Museum Kitzbühel

Hinterstadt 32, 6370 Kitzbühel

E-mail: info@museum-kitzbuehel.at

Tel: +43 5356 67274

Website: www.museum-kitzbuehel.at

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—18.00

            Thursday 14.00—20.00 and Saturday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: €6.50 ($8).  Free for under 18.

Many paintings by Alfons Walde.

 

Lech, Vorarlberg

Walsermuseum Lech-Tannberg

6764 Lech

E-mail: museumvereine@aon.at

Tel: +43 5583 2213 36

Website: www.vorarlbergermuseen.at/museen/walsermuseum-lech-tannberg/information

Open: Wednesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Ski display among many others.

 

 

Mariazell, Steiermark/Styria

Mariazell Heimatmuseum

Wienerstrasse 35, 8630 Mariazell

E-mail: mariazeller.heimathaus@aon.at

Tel: +43 3882 431 26

Website: www.mariazeller-heimathaus.at/heimathaus/wintersport

Open: Call ahead for days and hours

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Youth €3 ($3.75), Family €12 ($15)

Small section of skis among local history artifacts.

 

Saalbach, Salzburg

Skimuseum und Heimathaus Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Dorfplatz 36, 5753 Saalbach

E-mail: gemeinde@saalbach.at

Tel: +43 664 4767 807

Website: www.saalbach.or.at/de/einrichtungen/heimathausskimuseum

Open: July-August: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            End of May, June, September: Tuesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            Winter: 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult € 4.50 ($6), Child €2 ($2.50), Family €9 ($11.25)

 

Wien/Vienna

Österreichisches Olympiamuseum: this is the virtual museum of the Austrian Olympic Committee

E-mail: office@olympia.at [the e-mail of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Tel: +43 1799 5511 [telephone of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Website: www.olympia.at/museum

 

Vordernberg, Steiermark/Styria

Erzbergbahn- und Wintersportmuseum

Hauptstrasse 140, 8794 Vordernberg

Contact: Helma Moitzi

E-mail: office@erzbergbahn.at

Tel: +43 3849 832 or +43 3849 6246

Website: www.vordernberg.at/geschichte/museum.html

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), child €1 ($1.25)

This railway museum also exhibits ski material.

 

 

Innsbruck, Tirol

Österreichischer Alpenverein/Austrian Alpine Association

Olympiastrasse 37, 6020 Innsbruck

Contact: Veronika Raich

E-mail: veronika.raich@alpenverein.at

Tel: +43 512 595 47-19

Website: www.alpenverein.at

Closed: while looking for new premises (April 2018). 

Available: Lists of ski material from the Alpine Clubs of Germany, Austria, and the South Tirol can be found at www.historiches-alpenarchiv.org.

.

 

Schruns, Vorarlberg

Montafon Folk Museum and Montafon Archive

Kirchplatz 15, 6780 Schruns

Director: Michael Kasper

E-mail: info@montafoner-museen.at

Tel: +43 5556 74723

Website: www.montafoner-museen.at

Open: Museum: 12 June—26 October 2018: Tuesday—Friday and Sunday 14.00—18.00

            Archive: By appointment

Closed: Monday and Saturday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth and Child Free

Regional museum that also contains ski material and much documentation.

 

 

CANADA

Banff, Alberta

Canadian Ski Museum West

Cascade Plaza, 317 Banff Ave., Banff, AB T1L 1C1

Tel: 43 762 8484

Website: www.Banffnationalpark.com/Banff-activities/Banff-museums/Canadian-ski-museum-west

Open: When shopping plaza is open

Admission: Free

Variety of a few artifacts hung in shopping mall.

 

Revelstoke, British Columbia

Revelstoke Ski Museum (part of Revelstoke Museum and Archives)

315 First St. West.  Box 1908, Revelstoke, BC  VOE 250

Curator: Cathy English

E-mail: curator@revelstokemuseum.ca

Tel: 250 837 3067

Website: www.revelstokemuseum.ca

Open: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00, Saturday 11.00—17.00. 

Admissions: Adult $5, Seniors/Teens $4, Family $12

Western Canadian Rocky Mountain skiing.

 

St. Sauveur, Quebec

Musée du Ski des Laurentides/Laurentian Ski Museum

30 Ave. Fillon, St. Sauveur, Québec JOR 1RO

Curator: Nancy Belhumeur

E-mail: Nancy@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 10.00—17.00

            Thursday—Monday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Early skiing in the Laurentians, Emile Cochand, ski trains and village-ski growth.

 

Associated with the Musée du Ski des Laurentides is the Historical Directory of Québec Ski Sites, a virtual museum

Director: Pierre Dumas

E-mail: info@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com/index.php?q=node/221

Ca. 700 past and present ski areas, includes 444 alpine areas with lifts and 98 jumps, and ca. 12,500 documents.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Banff, Alberta

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

111 Bear St., P.O. Box 160, Banff AB T1l 1A3

Head archivist and Librarian: Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron

E-mail: info@whyte.org

Tel: 403 762 2291 x 332

Website: www.whyte.org

Open: 10.00—17.00

Admission: Call before any research visit

Library and photographic records.

 

Calgary, Alberta

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

169 Canada Olympic Way SW, Calgary, AB T3B 6B7

Director: Interim director Janice Smith

E-mail: jsmith@cshof.ca  

Tel: 403 776 1061

Website: www.sporthall.ca

Open: September—June: Wednesday—Sunday 10.00-17.00

            July—August: Monday--Sunday 10.00—17.00

Admission:  Adult Canadian $12 ($9.50), Senior $10 ($8), Youth $8 ($6.50), Family (4) $35 ($28)

 

London, Ontario

The International Centre for Olympic Studies at University of Western Ontario

1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B9

Director: Michael Heine

E-mail: via website

Tel: 519 661 4113

Website: www.uwo.ca/olympic/about/contact_icos.html

Open: Essential to inquire

Admission: Free

Olympic research center contains Avery Brundage papers. Publishes annual Olympika and edited papers of biennial symposia on Olympic research.

 

Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland Museum and Discovery Center

P.O. Box 26, 1100 Hwy 3B, Rossland, BC VOG 1YO

Director: Joelle Hodgins

E-mail: info@rosslandmuseum.ca

Tel: 250 362 7722

Website: www.rosslandmuseum.ca

Open: Mid-May—end June: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

            July—August: Monday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

            Rest of year: Wednesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Adult Canadian $10 ($8) Senior/student $8 ($6.50), Youth $5 ($4), Family (4) $24 ($19)

Small display, emphasis on early skiing from 1896 with Olaus Jeldness.

 

 

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

219 May Street South, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1B5

Exec. Director: Diane Imrie

Curator: Kate Dwyer

E-mail: nwosport@tbaytel.net

Tel: 807 622 2852

Website: www.nwosportshalloffame.com

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Canadian $3 ($2.50)

 

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler Museum and Archives

433 Main St., Whistler, BC VON 1B4

Director and Curator: Bradley Nichols

E-mail: info@whistlermuseum.org

Tel: 604 932 2019

Website: www.whistlermuseum.org

Open: 11.00—17.00 with extended hours Thursday

Admission: Free

Local skiing with emphasis on Olympics 2010.

 

 

 

CHINA

Changchun, Jilin

Vasaloppet museum

Changchun Jingyuetan Park, 5840 Jingyue St., Changchun

Tel: +86 431 8964 5455

Website: www.vasaloppetchina.com

Open: The museum is closed and only open on request.  I am told that it is difficult to make connections with the museum.  The website given and phone number are those for the Chinese Vasaloppet race organization.  There are no specific people, website or telephone for the museum.

 

CZECH REPULIC

Harachov, Liberec Region

Ski Museum Harrachov

Nový Svet 378, Harrachov 512 46

E-mail: turistik@sklarnaharrachov.cz

Tel: +420 603 470 113

Website: www.giant-mountains.info/tourism/ski-museum-harrachov.harachov.html and www.liberecky-kraj.cz

Open: January—December: Wednesday—Friday 14.00—17.00 and Saturday 10.00—17.00

Admission: 70 Koruna ($3.50), Senior 50 K ($2.50), Child 20 K ($1), Family 150 K ($7)

Local development of skiing and especially jumping.

 

Jilemnice, Liberec Region

Krkonosske Muzeum in Jilemnice Castle

Zamek 75, 514 01 Jilemnice

Director: Jan Luštinc

E-mail: kmjilemnice@kmap.cz

Tel: +420 481 543 041

Website: www.kmjilemnice.cz

Open: January—April: 8.00—16.00

            July—August: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—17.00

            November—December: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—16.00

 Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 70 Koruna ($3.50)

Graf Harrach and early skiing in area.

 

Nové Mesto na Morave, Vysočina Region

Horacké Muzeum

Vratislavovo námĕstí 114, 592 31 Nové Mesto

E-mail: horacke.muzeum@nmnm.cz

Tel: +420 566 216

Website: www.hm.nmnm.cz

Open: October—April: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—16.00

            May—June: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

             July—August: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—17.00

             September: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult 40 Koruna ($2), Senior/student 20 Koruna ($1)

Late 19th century skiing in area.

 

ESTONIA

Otepää, Valga County

Talispordimuuseum (Otepää Winter Sports Museum—a branch of the Estonian Sport and Olympic museum, but concentrating on winter sports)

Tehvandi Sports Center, Valga mit 12

Contact: Jana Mae

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee or jana@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 766 3670 or +372 501 6082 (Jana Mae)

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee/info/otepaa-talispordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Friday 11.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), Senior/student €1.50 ($2), Family (4) €5 ($6.25)

General collection with emphasis on cross-country skiing.

 

Tartu

Eesti Spordi-ja Olümpiamuuseum/Estonian Sport and Olympic Museum

15 Rüütli Street, 51005 Tartu

Director: Daimar Lell

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 730 0750

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Sunday 11.00—18.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Olympic exhibits.

 

FINLAND

Helsinki

Suomen Urheilumuseo/Sports Museum of Finland

Olympiastadion, Paavo Nurman tie 1, FI-00250 Helsinki

Director: Pekka Honkanen

E-mail: urheilumeseo@urheilumuseo.fi

Tel: +358 9 434 2250

Website: www.urheilumuseo.fi

Closed: For renovations.  Will reopen in 2019. Admission hours and fees will be announced

Displays, library especially strong in Finnish newspapers and periodicals.

 

Lahti, Päijänne Tavastia Region

Lahti Hiihtomuseo/Lahti Ski Museum

Sports Center (Urheilukeskus), Salpausselänkatu 8, P.O. Box 113, FI 15110 Lahti

Curator: Suvi Kuisma

E-mail: hiihtomuseo@lahti.fi

Tel: +358 50 398 5523 or +358 50 398 5521

Website: www.ladenmuseo.fi

Open:  Tuesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Senior/student €7 ($8.50)

Impressive displays, good library

 

FRANCE

Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise (Besse-en-Chandesse), Puy-de-Dôme

Musée du Ski

Maison de la Reine Margot, 11 Rue Boucherie, 63610 Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise

Owner and Curator: Pierre-André Chauvet

Tel: +33 4 7379 5730

Open: During school holidays: 9.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00

            Other times only by telephone arrangement

Admission: €4.50 ($6)

Large and excellent private collection, small library.

 

Grenoble, Isère

Musée du Ski is part of the Musée Dauphinois

30 Rue Maurice Gignoux, Cedex 1000, 38100 Grenoble

Director: Olivier Cogne

E-mail: musee.dauphinois@cg38.fr

Tel: +33 45758 8901

Website: www.musee-dauphinois.fr

Open: 1 September—31 May: 10.00—18.00

           1 June—31 August: 10.00—19.00

Admission: Free

Excellent collection, much from Rossignol, good library.

 

Les Rousses, Jura

Le Grand Tétras

705 route des Rousses, 39220 Les Rousses, Jura

Owner: Roger Tangueley and Stéphane Tangueley

E-mail: grandtetras39@aol.com

Tel: +33 3846 05113  

Website: www.legrandtetras.troumad.org/Le_musee.html

Open: Thursday 17.00—19.00

Closed: April and October to Christmas

Admission: Free but call ahead

Large and excellent private collection, especially material from the Jura.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Albertville, Savoie

Maison des Jeux Olympiques d’Hiver

11, rue Pargoud, 73200 Albertville

Director: Claire Grangé

E-mail: contact@maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Tel: +33 44793 77571

Website: www.maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—19.00

           Sunday 14.00—19.00

Admission: Adult: €4 ($5), Senior/student €3 ($3.75), Family (3) €11 ($13.50)

Winter Olympic material from 1992.

 

Chamonix, Haute Savoie

Musée Alpin

89 Ave. Michel Croz, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 450 539 998 (Tourist office)

Website: www.chamonix.com/musee-alpin,49-187321,fr.html

Open: 7 April—7 May: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           8 May—25 May: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           1 July—2 September: daily 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—18.00

            3 September—30 September: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 October—4 November: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 December—7 January: 10.00-12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

Closed: See above

Admission: Adult €5.90 ($7). Youth and child free

Local museum, much mountaineering material.  Includes winter sports. Library.

 

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes

Musée National du Sport (moved from Paris in 2014)

Stade Allianz Riviera, Bd. des Jardiniers, 06203 Nice cedex 3

E-mail: contact@museedusport.fr

Tel: +33 4892 24400

Website: www.allianz-riviera.fr/fr/le-musee-national-du-sport

Open: May—September: 10.00—18.00

           October—April: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($8) for permanent or temporary exhibit

                              €8 ($10) for permanent and temporary exhibit

                              Free for youth and free on first Sunday of each month October-April

 

PARIS

Club Alpin Français/French Alpine Club

24 avenue Laumière, 75019 Paris

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 1537 28700

Website: www.ffcam.fr

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 9.00—17.30

           Thursday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday 9.00—12.00

Admission: Free, but call ahead

Many documents of the CAF.  Other CAF sections hold regional library materials too.

 

 

GERMANY

Bernau im Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Ski-Köpfer-Museum—a digitalized museum with texts

Kaiserhausstrasse 27, 79872 Bernau im Schwarzwald

Contact: Walter Strohmeier

E-mail: info@ski-koepfer.de

Tel: +49 7675 1600 25 and +49 7675 1088

Website: www.ski-koepfer.de

Information and details: Contact essential

 

Braunlage, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony [Oberharz]

Heimat- und Skimuseum

Dr.-Kurt-Schroeder-Promenade 4, 38700 Braunlage

Director: Jürgen Schütz

Email: mail@museum-braunlage.de

Tel: +49 5520 1646

Website: www.museum-braunlage.de

Open: Tuesday and Friday 10.00—12.00

Closed: November to mid-December

Admission: Adult €2.50 ($3), Child €1.50 ($2)

Braunlage in late 19th century.

 

Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Schwarzwald Skimuseum

Hugenhof, Erlenbruckerstrasse 35, 79856 Hinterzarten

Director: Brigitte von Savigny

E-mail: info@schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Tel: +49 7652 982 192

Website: www.schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—17.00

            Saturday, Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth €1 ($1.25), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits on Black Forest, Georg Thoma and Sepp Allgeier.

 

Kempten, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Alpinmuseum

Marstallgebäude, Landwehrstrasse 4, 87439 Kempten

Contact: Christine Müller Horn

E-mail: museen@kempten.de

Tel: +49 831 2525 740

Website: www.kempten.de/alpin-museum.html

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Youth €2 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10). First Sunday in month free

History of the Alps, Alpinism and Skiing. Wilhelm Paulcke, Mathias Zdarsky, Georg Bilgeri featured.  Good library.

 

Fischen, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Fischinger Heimathaus

Geschwenderhaus, Hauptstrasse 3, 87538 Fischen

Contact: Florian Ruppaner

E-mail: info@skimuseum-fischen.de

Tel: +49 175 202 1404

Website: www.skimuseum-fischen.de

Open: Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Local heroes and excellent historical ski repair shop.

 

Nesselwang, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Nesselwang

Hauptstrasse 20, 87484 Nesselwang

Contact: Tourist Office

E-mail: info@nesselwang.de

Tel: +49 8361 9230 40

Website: www.nesselwang.de/museen-in-nesselwang.html

Open:  Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Skiing in Allgäu.

 

Oberwiesenthal, Sachsen/Saxony [Erzgebirge]

Oberwiesenthal Ski Museum

Karlsbaderstrasse 3, 09484 Oberwiesenthal

Contact: Brigitte Roscher

E-mail: info@oberwiesenthal.de

Tel: +49 373 487 521

Website: www.oberwiesenthal.com/urlaubsziel/sehenswertes/skimuseum.htm

Open: 1 April—2 December: Monday—Friday 9.30—17.00

                                                 Saturday—Sunday 10.00—13.00

           2 December—31 May: daily 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth free

 

Planegg, Bayern/Bavaria

Deutsches Skimuseum

Hubertusstrasse 1, 82152 Planegg

Director: Gerd Falkner

E-mail: gerd.falkner@deutscherskiverband.de

Tel: +49 898 5790 211

Website: www.deutscherskiverband.de/ueber_uns_skimuseum_uebersicht_de,348.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.30—16.00 and by appointment

Admission: Free

Excellent displays, good library but no longer holds the Luther Archive.

 

Reit im Winkl, Bayern/Bavaria

Skimuseum Alfons Dorner

Contact: Franz Höflinger

E-mail: via website

Tel: +49 8640 800 200

Website: www.reitimwinkl.de/winterurlaub/skimuseum

Open: Winter: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 15.00—17.00

           Summer: Tuesday, Thursday 15.00—17.00

Admission: Free with guest card

Excellent displays from c.1880s on.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Hannover, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony

Niedersächsisches Institut für Sportgeschichte (Lower Saxony Institute for Sport History)

Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg 10, 30169 Hannover

E-mail: info@nish.de

Tel: +49 511 1268 5060

Website: www.nish.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Essential to call

Documents relating mostly to Lower Saxony including the Harz.

 

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsche Sporthochschule/German Sports University

Institut für Sportgeschichte

Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Köln

Director: Stefan Wassong

E-mail: sporthistory@dshs-koeln.de

Tel: +49 221 4982-3740

Website: www.dshs-koeln.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Free but essential to call

Best library for ski materials in Germany. Now holds the Luther Archive.

 

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum

Im Zollhafen 1, 50678 Köln

Secretary: Jennifer Guthof

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.de

Tel: +49 221 33609-0

Website: www.sportmuseum.de

Open: Tuesday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday—Sunday 11.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Concentrates on 1936-1972 Olympic Games. Comparatively little on skiing.

 

Leipzig, Sachsen/Saxony

Leipzig Sportmuseum

Am Sportforum 10, 4105 Leipzig

Director: Gerlinde Rohr

E-mail: sportmuseum.Leipzig@t-online.de

Tel: +49 341 98051 12

Website: www.leipzig-online.de/sportmuseum-leipzig.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Admission: Inquire

Large general collection with some ski material.

 

Peiting, Bayern/Bavaria

Museum im Kloesterle

Kapellenstrasse 1, 86971 Peiting

E-mail: kloesterle-museu@gmx.de

Tel: +49 8861 59961

Website: www.peiting.de/tourismus/.../peiting/museum-im-kloesterle

Open: June—September: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                          Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—16.00

                                          Thursday 14.00—18.00

          October—May: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                     Thursday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Inquire

Skiing is one section of the museum.

 

Winterberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Wintersport Museum Neuastenberg (sometimes called the Westdeutsches Wintersport Museum)

Neuastenbergstrasse 17, 59955 Winterberg

E-mail: info@skimuseum-winterberg.de

Tel: +49 2981 2636

Website: www.skimuseum-winterberg.de

Open: Saturday and Sunday 15.00—17.00 and by appointment

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Child €1.50 ($2)

 

ITALY

Montebelluna, Treviso

Museo dello Scarpone/Museum of the Boot

Vicolo Zuccaareda 5, 31044 Montebelluna

E-mail: info@museoscarpone.it

Tel: +39 423 303282

Website: www.museoscarpone.it

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00, 14.30—17.30

           Saturday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 15.30—19.00

Admission: free

Largest collection of ski boots (among others) including, for example, those of Alberto Tomba.

 

Torino/Turin, Piemontese/Piedmont

Museo Nazionale della Montagna ‘Duca degli Abruzzi’/National Museum of the Mountain ‘Duke of the Abruzzi’

Piazzale Monte del Cappuccini 7, 10131 Torino

Director: Aldo Audisio

E-mail: post@museomontagna.org

Tel: +39 116604 104

Website: www.museuomontagna.org

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Child €7 ($8.50)

Although this is a mountaineering museum, there is much on skiing here, film is specialty.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Temù, Brescia

Museo della Guerra Bianca/Museum of the White War

Via Roma 40, 25050 Temù

Tel: +39 334 648 7127

E-mail: info@museoguerrabianca.it

Website: www.museoguerrabianca.it

Open: Essential to email or call for hours

Admission: Adult €7 ($8.50), Child €4 ($5)

Ski material of World War I mountain warfare.

 

TORINO/TURIN

Club Alpino Italiano, Sezione di Torino/Italian Alpine Club, Turin Section

Via Guiseppe Barboux 1, Torino

E-mail: segreteria@caitorino.it

Tel: +39 11 54 6031

Website: www.caitorino.it

Open: Monday 14.00—18.30

           Tuesday—Friday 10.00—18.30

Admission: Free

Although a mountaineering society, the library has interesting ski material.

 

JAPAN

Nagano, Nagano Prefecture

Nozawaonsen-mura/Ski Museum (also called Japanese Ski Museum)

9780-4 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture

E-mail: info@nozawaski.com

Tel: +81 26985 3418

Website: www.nozawaski.com/summer/skihakubutsukan.php

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.30—16.00

Closed: Thursday, Sunday

Admission: Adult 300 yen ($3), Student 150 yen ($1.50)

Displays European background and then development of skiing in Japan.

 

Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture

Sapporo Olympic Museum

1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0958

Director: Masashi Abe

Tel: +81 11 641 8585

Website: www.sapporo-olympiamuseum.jp

Open: 28 April—4 November: 9.00—18.00

           5 November—26 April: 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult 600 yen ($6), Senior 450 yen ($4.50), Child free

Many displays, especially of Olympics. Prince Takamatsu and Dr. Seishichi Ohno ski collections.

 

LIECHTENSTEIN

Eschen

Geissmann Collection

Rainer Geissmann, Renkwiller, Eschen

E-mail: Geissmann.rainer@adon.li

Private collection of Swiss Schwendener skis. Essential to E-mail for appointment.

 

NORWAY

Kongsberg, Buskerud

Ski Museum in Bergverksmuseet/Ski Museum in the Mining Museum

Hyttegata 3, Kongsberg

E-mail: bergverksmuseet@bvm.no

Tel: +47 9191 3200

Website: https://norsk-bergverksmuseum.no/skihistorisk-samlung

Open: 2 January—16 May: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

           18 May—26 August: daily 10.00-17.00

           28 August—23 December: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 90 NOK ($11.50) Senior/Student 70 NOK ($9), Child 50 NOK ($6)

The ski museum is part of the Mining museum.  Especially strong in Kongsberg region and Birger Ruud materials.

 

Lillehammer, Oppland

Norges Olympiske Museet/Norwegian Olympic Museum

Maihaugveien 1, 2609 Lillehammer

E-mail: post@lillehammer.no

Tel: +47 6128 89000

Website: www.ol.museum.no

Open: September—May: Tuesday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

           June—August: daily 10.00-17.00

Admission: Adult 135 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 95 NOK ($12), Child 65 NOK ($8), Family NOK 335 ($43)

Excellent displays on all Olympics but especially those held in Norway in 1952 and 1994, and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016.

 

Morgedal, Telemark

Norsk skieventyr/ /Norwegian Ski Adventure

3850 Kvitseit, 3848 Morgedal

Director: Kristi Marie Tveit

E-mail: kmt@vtm.no

Tel: +47 3506 9080

Website: www.vest-telemark.museum.no/...norsk-skieventyr-skimuseet-i-morgedal

Open: 26 January—30 April: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                Sunday 11.00--1800

           1 May—14 June: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                        Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                        Sunday 12.00—17.00

          15 June—15 August: daily 10.00—18.00

           16 August—31 August: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—18.00

             1 September—16 December: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                             Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                             Sunday 11.00—18.00

Admission: Adult 100 NOK ($13), Senior/Student 80 NOK ($10), Child 50 NOK ($6.50), Family 250 NOK ($32)

Part of the Vest-Telemark museum system, good displays with special attention to Norheim (house available for visit) and Bjaaland.  Good library.

 

Oslo

Holmenkollen Skimuseet/Holmenkollen Ski Museum

Kongsveien 5, 0787 Oslo

Director: Åslaug Midtdal

E-mail: 

Aslaug.midtdal@skiforeningen.no

Tel: +47 917 69 758

Website: www.skiforeningen.no/en/holmenkollen/skimuseet

Open:  October—April: 10.00—16.00

             May—September: 10.00—17.00

             June—August: 9.00—20.00

Admission:  Adult 140 Kroner ($18), Senior/Student 120 Kr ($15), Child 70 Kr (49), Family (4) 350 Kr ($45)

The world’s most comprehensive ski museum.  Call ahead for research purposes.

 

Tromsø, Troms

Polarmuseet, Polar museum

Søndre Tollbodgate 11, 9008 Tromsø

E-mail: via website

Tel: +47 776233 60

Website: www.uit.no

Open: 1 January—14 June: 11.00—17.00

           15 June—15 August: 9.00—18.00

           16 August—31 December: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior 30 NOK ($4), Family (4) 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the university museum and the polar museum.

Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and also Helmer Hanssen and Hjalmar Johansen with Amundsen to S. Pole.

 

Tromsø, Troms

Tromsø Universitetsmuseet/Tromsø University Museum

P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, 9037 Tromsø

Contact: Anita Maurstad

E-mail: postmottak@tmu.uit.no

Tel: +47 776 450 01

Website: https://uit.no

Website for skis: www.unimus.no/etnografi/tmu/samling/index.php

 

Open: 1 June—31 August: 9.00—18.00

           1 September—31 May: Monday—Friday 10.00—16.30

                                                  Saturday 12.00—15.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior/Student/Child 30 NOK ($4), Family 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the University Museum and the Polar Museum

General exhibits on northern life, especially Sami culture.  Some ski material including ca. 25 skis.

 

Trondheim, Trøndelag

Skimuseet Sverresborg, part of the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkmuseet

Sverresborg Allé 13, Postboks 1107, 7020 Trondheim

E-mail: post@sverresborg.no

Tel: +47 7389 0100

Website: www.sverresborg.no

Open: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—15.00

           Saturday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 125 NOK ($16), Senior/Student 110 NOK ($14), Child Free

Ski museum is among a large number of buildings which comprise the Folk Museum of the area

 

Trysil, Hedmark

Trysil-Knut Ski Museum

Vestsidevegen 4, 2420 Trysil

E-mail: rvingels@gmail.com

Tel: +47 918933 77

Website: www.expology.com/trysil-knut

Open: By appointment only: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—19.00

Admission: 40 NOK ($5)

Small museum, nice displays.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Alta, Finnmark

World Heritage Rock Art Centre—Alta Museum

Altaveien 19, 9518 Alta

Director: Harriet Hagen

E-mail: post@altamuseum.no

Tel: +47 41756330

Website: www.alta.museum.no

Open: 2 January—13 May: Monday—Friday: 9.00—15.00

                                             Saturday—Sunday: 11.00—16.00

           14 May—8 June: daily 8.00—17.00

            9 June—19 August: daily 08.00—20.00

           20 August—14 September: daily 08.00—17.00

           15 September—30 December: Monday—Friday 9.00—15.00

                                                             Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Summer/Winter (1 May—30 September/1 October—30 April): Adult 115/75 NOK ($16/10), Senior 105/65 NOK ($13/8), Student 100/55 NOK ($13/7), Child 35/20 NOK ($5/3)

Impressive rock carving. Exhibition jumping and Bjorn Wirkola.

 

Elverum, Hedmark

Norsk Skogbruksmuseet/Norwegian Forestry Museum

Solørvegen 151, 2407 Elverum

Director: Bjørn Bækkelund

E-mail: skogmus@annomuseum.no

Tel: +47 6240 9000

Website: www.skogmus.no

Open: 24 June—13 August: 10.00—17.00

           Rest of the year: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 110 NOK ($13.50), Senior 80 NOK ($10), Youth/child 60 NOK ($7.50)

Concentrates on forestry, hunting and fishing and few skis on view. To see the 100 skis in storage appointment must be made for Monday-Friday 10.00—15.30 at bookingskogmus@annomuseum.no.

 

Oslo

Norskfolkemuseum/Norwegian Folk Museum

Museumveien 10, Bygdøy, 0287 Oslo

Conservator: Morten Bing

E-mail: post@norskfolkemuseum.no

Tel: +47 2212 3700

Website: www.norskfolkemuseum.no

Open: 15 May—14 September: daily 10.00—18.00

            15 September—14 May: Monday—Friday 11.00—15.00

                                                     Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 130 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 100 NOK ($13), Child 40 NOK ($5), Family 260 NOK ($33)

The ski material is digitalized at www.digitalmuseum.no/search/?q=Ski&aq=owner%3F%3A%22NF%22

.

 

POLAND

Cieklin, Subcarpathian Voivodeship

Muzeum Narciarstwa w Cieklin: Stanisław Barabasz Ski Museum in Cieklin

38-222 Cieklin

Director: Wiesław Czechowicz

Scientific Director: Leon Rak

E-mail: muzeumnarciarstwa@op.pl; leorak1964@gmail.com and lrak@ajd.czest.pl

Tel: +48 791 994 591

Website: www.muzeum-narciarstwa.pl

Open: Wednesday 9.00—14.00

           Saturday 9.00—11.00

           Other times by arrangement

Admission: Free

Tadeusz Wowkonowicz and Stanisław Barabasz archives, and local ski development.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Warsaw

Muzeum Sportu i Turystyki/Museum of Sport and Tourism

Pope Jan Pawell (John Paul) II Olympic Center, ul. Wybrzeże Gdyńskie 4, 01-531 Warszawa

Director: Tomasz Jagodziński

E-mail: muzsport@muzeumsportu.waw.pl

Tel: +48 225 603 780

Website: www.muzeumsport.waw.pl

Open: Wednesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

           Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: 12 zloty ($3.50).  Saturday: Free

Skiing presented among other sports. Large library, museum publications.

 

Zakopane, Maloposkie/Province of Lesser Poland

Muzeum Tatrazańskie/ Museum of the Tatra Mountains

ul. Krupówki 10, 34-500 Zakopane

Director: Anna Wende-Surmiak

E-mail: biuro@muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Tel: +48 182 0152 05

Website: www.muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Open: 1 January—30 April: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           1 May—30 September: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—18.00

           1 October—31 December: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           Year round Sundays: 9.00—15.00

Library open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Archives open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—15.00

Admission: 7 zloty ($2)

Ski material and excellent photographs among much local history.

 

RUSSIA

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Moscow

State Historical Museum

Red Square 1, Moscow 109012

Tel: +7 495 692 4019

Website: www.shm.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Information about the few bog skis held in this museum comes from Natalia I. Astashova, “Skis from the Archeological Collections of the State Historical Museum,” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998.  Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998, 89-94.

 

St. Petersburg

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

University Embankment 3, 199034 St. Petersburg

Website: www.kunstkamera.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Tel: +7 812 328 0812

Information about the few skis held in this museum comes from Tatyana Shrader, “Skis in Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (The Kunstkammer),” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998. Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998,  13-15.

 

SLOVENIA

Begunje, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

ELAN Alpine Ski Museum

4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem

Director: Tomaž Šlibar

E-mail: info@elanskimuseum.com

Tel: +386 453 511 09

Website: www.elanskimuseum.com

Open: 15 April—15 September: Tuesday—Thursday 10.00—19.00

                                                    Friday—Saturday 10.00—20.00

            16 September—14 April: Tuesday—Thursday, Sunday 10.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Note: Groups by appointment outside listed times

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Senior/Student €4 ($5), Child €3 ($3.75)

This is the ELAN factory museum.

 

Planica, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Planiški muzej/Planica Museum in the Nordic Center Planica

Rateče 4283

E-mail: info@nc-planica.si

Tel: +386 316 898 06

Website: www.nc-planica.si

Open: July—August: daily 9.00—20.00.  Rest of year: daily 9.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50)

Excellent displays of jumping and ski flying.

 

 

Pohorje

Smučarski Mozej Pohorje/Pohorje Ski Museum

Hočko Pohorje 36b, 2208 Pohorje

Owner and Curator: Prof. Dr. Duško Uršič

E-mail: dusko.ursic@um.si

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adults €10 ($13), child up to 15: free

Largest private collection in Slovenia.  Opening Summer 2021.

 

Tržič, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Tržiški muzej—Slovenski smučarski muzej, Tržič/Tržič Museum—Slovenian Ski Museum

Muzejska 11, 4290 Tržič

Curator: Boštjan Meglič

E-mail: trziski.muzej@siol.net

Tel: + 386 4592 3810

Website: www.trziski-muzej.si

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Senior/Student, Child €2 ($2.50), Family €5 ($6.25)

Ski materials are only one part of the museum.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Bloke

Nova vas 4 a, 1385 Nova vas, Bloke

Contact: Matej Pakiž

E-mail: obcina.bloke@bloke.si

Tel: +386 1709 8918 or +386 313 261 58

Open: Call ahead

Exhibition is sponsored by the municipality of Bloke (Občina Bloke)

Emphasis on local skis.  Bloke considers itself the founding place of Slovenian skiing.

 

Ljubljana

Muzej Športa/[Slovenian] Sports Museum

Kopitarjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana

Director: Tomaž Pavlin

E-mail: info@muzejsporta.si

Tel: +386 1431 8340

Website: https://museu.ms/museum/details/35/muzej-sporta

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—14.00

Closed: Saturday, Sunday

Admission: Free

Most of the ski material has been moved to the complex at Planica. Good library, especially on Olympics.

 

Maribor, Podravska/Drava

Vojaški muzej slovenske vojske/Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces

Kadetnica, Engelsova 15, 2111 Maribor

Contact: Gregor Kastelic

E-mail: gregor.kastelic@mors.si

Tel: +386 2449 5006

Website: www.vojaskimuzej.si

Open: January, February, June—September: 10.00—17.00

           March—May, October, November: 10.00—15.00

           Saturday, Sunday during the holidays: 10.00—15.00

Admission: Free but call before visit

The museum is inside the main building of the officers’ military training college and has minor displays on skiing.

 

Mojstrana, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Slovenski planinski muzej/Slovenian Alpine Museum

Triglavska cesta 49, 4281 Mojstrana

Contact: Miro Eržen

E-mail: info@planinskimuzej.si

Tel: +386 8380 6730

Website: www.planinskimuzej.si

Open: 1 June—14 September: 9.00—19.00

           15 September—31 May: 9.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Senior/Student €3.60 ($4.50), Family €13 ($16)

A  mountain museum with occasional ski-mountaineering material.

 

SPAIN

Unha, Lleida

Musèu dera Nhèu/The Snow Museum

Santa Eulàlia 17-19, Unha-Naut Aran

E-mail: vielha@baqueira.es

Tel: +34 973 644 030

Website: www.bazueira.es/aran-aneu/vall-aran/aran-museos

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10.00—13.00

           Thursday, Friday, Saturday 17.00—20.00      

Closed: Sunday                                                                                                     

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Student €2 ($2.50), Child free

Snow seen from a scientific, ethnological, and sporting point of view. 

 

SWEDEN

Åsarna, Jamtland

Skimuseum Åsarna

Åsarna Ski Center, Olstavägen 45, 840 31 Åsarna

E-mail: info@asarnaskicenter.se

Tel: +46 687 302 30

Website: www.asarnaskicenter.se

Open: June—August: 9.00—20.00

           September—May: 9.00—19.00

Admission: 20 SKR ($2.50)

 

Mora, Dalarna

Vasaloppsmuseet/The Vasalopp Museum

792-32 Mora

E-mail: info@vasaloppet.se

Tel: +46 250 392 25

Website: www.vasaloppet.se

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8.00—16.30

           Thursday 9.00—15.00

Closed: Monday—Friday 12.00—13.00 and Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Call for prices

Museum of the Vasalopp.  Special exhibits, one on Mora Nisse.

 

Umeå, Västerbotten

Ski Museum is part of Västerbotten museum complex

Helena Elisabethsväg 3, Box 3183, 903 42 Umeå

E-mail: info@vbm.se

Tel: +46 9016 3900                                                                                                       

Website: www.vbm.se

Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—17.00

           Wednesday 10.00—20.00

           Saturday, Sunday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Free

Open air cultural museum of Västerbotten. Incorporates the best ski museum in Sweden, with excellent library.

 

SWITZERLAND

Bad Ragaz, Canton St. Gall/St. Gallen

Jürg Hess Collection

Unterrainstrasse 12, 7310 Bad Ragaz

Owner: Jürg Hess

E-mail: hess_juerg@bluewin.ch

 Tel: +41 79 616 7885

Open: By appointment only

Massive private collection of equipment, especially skis and bindings.

 

Davos, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Wintersport-Museum/Winter Sport Museum

Promenade 43, 7270 Davos Platz

E-mail: andresguler@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 814 132 484

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.ch

Open:  Winter: Tuesday, Thursday 16.30—18.30

             Summer: (Opening 19 June) 16.30—18.30

             Other times by appointment

Closed: April—18 June

Admission: Free

Excellent displays.

 

Lausanne, Canton Vaud/Waadt

Musée Olympique/Olympic Museum

Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne

E-mail: info.museum@olympic.org

Tel: +41 216 216 511

Website: www.olympic.org/museum

Open:1 May—15 October: daily 9.00—18.00

           16 October—30 April: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday 16 October—30 April

Admission: Adult CHF 18 ($18), Senior CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 10 ($10), Family CHF 40 ($40)

Vast museum, excellent displays, includes winter Olympics.  Olympic library and documentation center. Essential to call for research information.

 

Les Bois, Canton Jura

Laurent Donzé Collection

Sous les rangs 31, 2336 Les Blois

E-mail: l.donze@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 794 188 252

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of c.a. 2000 cross-country skis.

 

Oberwald, Canton Valais/Wallis

Toni Hischier’s Ski Museum

Oberwald 3999

Tel: +41 793 299 400

Website: www.obergoms.ch/activities/for-mind-soul/museums

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of over 1000 skis.

 

Swiss Ski Lifts, a virtual museum

Contact: Jakob Schuler

E-mail: via website

Tel: +41 79 894 51 01

Website: www.skilift-nostalgie.ch

Comprehensive on-line depiction of ski lifts in Switzerland.

 

Swiss Ski Museum, a virtual museum

Case Postale 67, 1937 Orsières

Contact: Pierre Schneider

E-mail: info@swissskimuseum.com

Tel: +41 79 736 6947

Website: www.swissskimuseum.com

The most comprehensive on-line depiction and explanation of skiing development in Switzerland founded by Luzi Hitz (d.) and Pierre Schneider.

 

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

 

Arosa, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Heimatmuseum und Kulturarchiv Arosa—Schanfigg

Egga-Hus, 7050 Arosa

E-mail: info@arosa-museum.ch

Tel: +41 796 765 658 and +41 813 771 731

Website: www.arosa-museum.ch

Open: 22 December—13 April: Tuesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

           18 June—19 October: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

Closed: 14 April—17 June and 20 October—21 December

Admission: CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum with local archive.  Essential to call ahead.

 

Bern/Berne

Alpines Museum der Schweiz/Swiss Alpine Museum

Helvetiaplatz 4, 3005 Bern

E-mail: info@alpinesmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 3135 004 40

Website: www.alpinesmuseum.ch

Open: Tuesday—Sunday: 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 6 ($6), Family CHF 35 ($35)

Includes winter sports material, also skis of Hermann Hesse. Good library. 

 

 

Grindelwald, Canton Bern/Berne

Heimatmuseum Grindelwald

Almisgässli, 3, 3818 Grindelwald

Director: Marco Bomio

E-mail: grindelwald-museum@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 338 5343 02

Website: www.grindelwald-museum.ch

Open: 1 June—8 October: Tuesday—Friday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 April—31 May

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 2 ($2)

The winter sport section is on the second floor.

 

Lauterbrunnen, Canton Bern/Berne

Talmuseum Lauterbrunnen

Ey, 3822 Lauterbrunnen

Contact: Esther Graf

E-mail: info@talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Tel: +41 338 553 586

Website: www.talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Open: 3 June—14 October: Tuesday, Thursday—Sunday: 14.00—17.30

Closed: Monday, Wednesday

Closed: 15 October—2 June, but possible entry by arrangement

Admission: Adult 5 CHF ($5)

One of 12 sections is a small display of skis and equipment.

 

Luzern/Lucerne, Canton Luzern/Lucerne

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz/Swiss Transport Museum

Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern

E-mail: mail@verkehrshaus.ch

Tel: +41 413 704 444

Website: www.verkehrshaus.ch

Open: Summer: daily 10.00—18.00

           Winter: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult CHF 32 ($32), Student CHF 22 ($22), Child CHF 12 ($12).  Note these are for museum only.  Other prices apply for various aspects of this large museum

Includes a replica of the Davos-Bolgen ski lift, and much on aerial tramways and their inspection.  Good library.

 

Magglingen/Macolin, Canton Bern/Berne

Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport/Swiss Sports University

Federal Office of Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sports, 2532 Magglingen

E-mail: via internet at ‘media library’

Tel: +41 323 276 226

Website: www.ehsm.ch

Open: Library: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—17.00

Closed: Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Free

No ski exhibits but very good library.  Essential to call ahead.

 

Münchenstein, Canton Basel

Schweizer Sportmuseum/Sport Museum of Switzerland

Reinacherstrasse 1, 442 Münchenstein

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 612 611 221

Website: www.sportmuseum.ch

Open: Wednesday, Friday: 14.00—17.00

Admission: CHF 8 ($8)

Much ski material among vast collection of sport artifacts.  Good library.  Essential to call ahead for research.

 

Näfels, Canton Glarus/Glaris

Museum des Landes Glarus

Freulerpalast, 8752 Näfels

Director: Bettina Giersberg

E-mail: info@freulerpalast.ch

Tel: +41 556 121 378

Website: www.freulerpalast.ch

Open: 1 April—30 November: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: 1 December—31 March but will open for groups by appointment

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Student CHF 5 ($5)

Local museum, skiing being one of seven major exhibits with emphasis on Glarus.

 

Obervaz, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Obervaz Museum

Voa da Solis 2, 7082 Vaz/Obervaz

Director: Anna Maria Elmer-Cantieni

E-mail: museum.vaz@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 813 842 159

Website: www.vazobervaz.ch/sportmuseum

Open:  Call for hours

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum displaying importance of tourism and holding late 19th century skis and a display of local Olympic (1976) star, Heine Hemmi.

 

Pontresina, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Museum Alpin Pontresina

Chesa Delnon Haus, via Maistra 199, 7504 Pontresina

Contact: Annemarie Brülisauer

E-mail: museum@pontresina.ch

Tel: +41 818 427 273

Website: www.pontresina.ch/museumalpin

Open: 11 June—20 October: Monday—Saturday 15.30—18.00

Closed: Sunday

Admission: Adult CHF 8 ($8), Youth and Child CHF 2 ($2)

Local museum with some ski material. Exhibit on 50th anniversary of Engadin marathon.

 

Saas-Fee, Canton Valais/Wallis

Saaser Museum

Dorfstrasse 6, 3906 Saas-Fee

Contact: Damian Bumann

E-mail: museum@3906.ch

Tel: +41 792 202 853 or +41 279 571 475

Website: www.3906.ch/de/leben/kultur/saasermuseum

Open: 18 June—14 October: Tuesday and Thursday 14.30—17.00 and on request

Admission: Adult CHF 5 ($5), Child CHF 2.50 ($2.50)

Local museum with some ski related material.

 

Schönenwerd, Canton Solothurn

Bally Schuhmuseum/Bally Shoe Museum

Oltnerstrasse 6, 5012 Schönenwerd

E-mail: receptioncaslano@bally.ch

Tel: +41 916 129 111

Website: www.bally.com

Open: For individuals only on the last Friday and Saturday of every month.  For groups by arrangement.

Admission: Call ahead

One of the largest collections of boots and shoes with occasional early ski boots.

 

Tramelin, Canton Bern/Berne

Musée du Ski Geiser

In shop Geiser-Sports, Grand-Rue 39, 2720 Tramelin

E-mail: info@geiser-sports.ch

Tel: +41 324 874 160

Website: www.geiser-sports.ch

Open: October—April: Monday 13.30—18.30

                                       Tuesday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—18.30

                                        Saturday 9.00—12.00

           May: Monday—Friday 14.00—18.00

           September: Wednesday 14.00—18.00

Closed: June—August

Admission: Free

The ski museum is in the shop, various exhibits are available for ski clubs etc.

         

Zermatt, Canton Valais/Wallis

Matterhorn Museum

Kirchplatz, Zermatt 3920

E-mail: matterhornmuseum@zermatt.ch

Tel: +41 279 674 100

Website: www.zermatt.ch/en/museum

Open: 9 April—30 June: daily 14.00—18.00

            1 July—30 September: daily 11.00—18.00

            1 October—31 October: daily 15.00—18.00

            23 November—20 December: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 November—22 November

               23 November—20 December Monday--Thursday

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Senior/Student CHF 8 ($8), Child CHF 5 ($5)

Mostly on growth of Zermatt from mountain farm community to summer and winter alpine resort with much on Matterhorn climbing.

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Leicester, Leicestershire

The Ski Club of Great Britain Archives in Special Collections of De Montfort University

Special Collections Kimberlin Library, Leicester LE1 9BH

Archivist: Katharine Short

E-mail: kshort@dmu.ac.uk and archives@dmu.ac.uk

Tel: +44 116 250 6392

Website: www.dmu.ac.uk

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—17.00.  Essential to call ahead for research

Entire archives of Ski Club of Great Britain is now (April 2018) housed at De Montfort University.

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

Boise, Idaho

Glory Days Ski Museum

4432 N. Burnside Place, Boise, ID 83702

Owner: Kirk Luba

E-mail: glorydaysskimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 208 629 8329

Open: By appointment.

Private collection of 1960s-1980s skis.

Davis, West Virginia

Snow Sports Museum of West Virginia

466 William Avenue, Davis, WV 26260 (postal P.O. Box 421)

Executive Director: Andy Snyder

E-mail: ssmwv@icloud.com

Tel: 334-663-1172

Website: www.snowsportsmuseumwv.org

Open: 15 April—31 October: Thursday-Monday 11.00-18.00

            2021 until 11 April: Friday-Sunday 11.00-18.00

Admission: Free

Monthly Newsletter on website. Collections 1950—1990

 

Fort Drum, New York

10th Mountain Deivision & Fort Drum Museum

Building 2509 Col. Reade Road, Fort Drum, NY 13602

Director: to be names Fall 2022

Curator: Kent Bolke

E-mail: 10thmountainmuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 315 774 0391

Website: https://history/army/mil/fieldmuseum/fortDrum/index.html

Open: All year, Tuesdays-Saturdays 9 am-5 pm

Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays

Admission: Free

History of Fort Drum and 10t Mountain Division from beginning to modern deployments.  Military mountaineering and skiing in US army.

 

Franconia, New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum

135 Tramway Drive, P.O. Box 267, Franconia, NH 03580

Executive Director: Jeffrey R. Leich

E-mail: staff@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 823 7177

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: 1 December—ca.15 April: 9.00—17.00

           31 May—ca.15 October: 9.00—17.00

Closed: 15 April—30 May and 15 October—1 December

Admission: Free.  Admission during closed periods by appointment

Exhibits highlight New England skiing.  One of the finest libraries in the USA with manuscript archives and films. Journal is published four times a year.

 

Ishpeming, Michigan

U.S Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

610 Palms Avenue, P.O. Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849

E-mail: Administrator@skihall.com

Tel: 906 485 6323

Website: www.skihall.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and national holidays

Admission: Free

Many exhibits, Roland Palmedo library.

 

Kingfield, Maine

Ski Museum of Maine

256 Maine St., P.O. Box 359, Kingfield, ME 04947

Director: Theresa Shanahan

E-mail: info@skimuseumofmaine.org

Tel: 207 265 2023

Website: www.skimuseumofmaine.org

Open: Year round Monday--Friday 10.00—16.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Maine skiing, with special reference to Sugarloaf and manufacturers.

 

North Conway,  New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum: Eastern Slopes Branch

P.O. Box 1673, North Conway, NH 03860-1673

Manager: Brian Fowler

E-mail: brian@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 730 5044

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—16.00 until further notice

Admission: Free

Irwin Exhibit Hall displays Eastern skiing with special reference to Harvey Dow Gibson and Hannes Schneider. Library.

 

Park City, Utah

Alf Engen Ski Museum located in Olympic complex

Joe Quinney Winter Sports Park, Utah Olympic Park, P.O. Box 980187, Park City, UT 84098

Executive Director: Connie Nelson

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 658 4240

Website: www.engenmuseum.org

Open: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Alf Engen and Utah skiing.  The Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum is also a part of this museum.

 

Red Wing, Minnesota

The American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum

Inside the St. James Hotel, 406 Main St., Red Wing, MN 55066

Contact: St. James Hotel

E-mail: info@americanskijumping.com

Tel: 651 388 2846 (Hotel telephone)

Website: www.americanskijumping.com

Open: On request only, essential to call hotel ahead

Admission: Free

History of jumping, especially Scandinavian immigrants.  Hall of Fame.

 

Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Ski and Snowboard Archives

University of Utah Marriot Library Special Collections, 295 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Manager: Judy Jarrow

E-mail: via website

Tel: 801 581 3421

Website: www.lib.utah.edu

Open: Essential to call ahead

Admission: Free

Documentation on Utah skiing, resort growth and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

 

Sandia Peak, New Mexico

New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame and Ski Museum

Base of Sandia Peak Aerial Tram, 10 Tramway Rd. NE, P.O. Box 09937, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Contact: Jay Blackwood

E-mail: jblackw796@aol.com

Tel: 505 857 8916

Website: www.nmskihall.org

Open: daily 9.00—20.00

Admission: Free

Small museum, local emphasis.

 

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum

Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068

Contact: Dave Moffett

Email: info@wsssm.org

Tel: (206) 854-3626

Website: www.wsssm.org

Opened in 2015, WSSSM is a modern museum featuring 11 permanent exhibits on Washington's snow sport venues. Olympians, manufacturers, Alpine, Nordic, mountaineering, adaptive, and snowboarding history.

 

Soda Springs, California

Western SkiSport Museum

On Donner Pass.  P.O. Box 829, Soda Springs, CA 95728

Director: Bill Clark

E-mail: bclark@inc.auburnskiclub.org

Tel: 530 426 3313 x 101

Website: www.auburnskiclub.com/asctc/about-us/ski-museum

Open: Ski season: daily 10.00—16.00

            Off season: by appointment

Admission: Free

Displays of Western states skiing and of Squaw Olympics. Strong on Sierra “longboard” skiing of the Gold Rush era. Library and documents.

Note: The Museum of Sierra Ski History and the Olympic Museum are presently (April 2018) fundraising and obtaining land permits.  If all goes as planned, the Olympic artifacts from the Western SkiSport Museum will go to the Olympic Museum, and the other artifacts will go to the Museum of Sierra Ski History.  Eventually, the hope is to combine all three in the Olympic Museum (www.olympicskimuseum.org) planned for Squaw Valley opening in 2023.

 

Stowe, Vermont

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

1 South Main St., P.O. Box 1511, The Perkins Building, Stowe, VT 05672

Director: Abby Blackburn

E-mail: info@vermontskimuseum.org

Tel: 802 253 9911

Website: www.vtssm.com

Open: 26 May—15 October: Wednesday—Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday and 16 April—25 May

Admission: Free

Vermont exhibits, also 10th Mountain.

 

Squaw Valley, California

Olympic Museum—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

 

Tahoe City, California

Museum of Sierra Ski History—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

Currently artifacts are displayed at the Gatekeepers Cabin Museum, 130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145

Tel: 530 583 1762

Website: www.tahoecity.org

Open: daily in Summer.  Rest of the year: Wednesday—Sunday.  Call for hours

Local ski history.

 

 

Tannersville, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Ski and Snow Sports Museum

Exhibit at base lodge of Camelback Ski Area, Tannersville, PA 18372

Contact: Paul Prutzman, Goggleworks Suite 506 A, 201 Wahington St., Reading, PA 19601

E-mail: Pasmoffice@gmail.com

Tel: 610 334 4378

Website: www.pasnowsportsmuseum.com

Open: When ski area is open

Admission: Free

Local ski development.  Hall of Fame.

 

Vail, Colorado

Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame

231 South Frontage Road East, P.O. Box 1976, Vail, CO 81657

Director: John McMurtry

E-mail: skimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 970 476 1876

Website: www.skimuseum.net

Open: 5 March 2018 on limited basis due to renovations: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Exhibits Colorado material, extensive 10th Mountain collection

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Historical Society

620 West Bleeker St., Aspen, CO 81611

Curator: Lisa Hancock

E-mail: info@aspenhistory.com

Tel: 970 925 3721

Website: www.aspenhistory.com

Open: Call for opening hours

Admission: Free

Documents relating to Aspen’s skiing history.

 

 

Decorah, Iowa

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

520 West Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101

Curator:  Laurann Gilbertson

E-mail: info@vesterheim.org

Tel: 563 382 9681

Website: www.vesterheim.org

Open: 1 May—31 October: 9.00—17.00

           1 November—30 April: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult $10, Senior $8, Youth $5

Museum of Norwegian immigration in the Midwest with small collection on immigrant skiing.

 

Denver, Colorado

10th Mountain Division Resource Center in the Denver Public Library

Denver Public Library, 10 W 14the Ave Parkway, Denver, CO 80204-2731

Archivist: Keli Schmid

E-mail: kschmid@denverplibrary.org

Tel: 720 865 1812

Website: www.denverlibrary.org

 Open: Monday and Tuesday 10.00—20.00

           Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—18.00

           Saturday: 9.00—17.00 and Sunday 13.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Archives of letters, diaries, photos, films with emphasis on World War II.

 

Government Camp, Oregon

Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum

88900 East Hwy 26, Business Loop, P.O. Box 55, Government Camp, OR 97028

Contact: Lloyd Musser or Cheryl Maki

E-mail: info@mthoodmuseum.org

Tel: 503 272 3301

Website: www.mthoodmuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Local museum with ski documents and artifacts from local clubs on second floor.

 

Ketchum, Idaho 

Sun Valley Museum of History

180 East 1st St., P.O. Box 2168, Ketchum, ID 83340

Director of Regional History: Mary Tyson

E-mail: mtyson@comlib.org

Tel: 208 726 8118 and 208 726 3493 x 103

Website: www.ksvhs.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Local material including much on skiing.

 

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum

Olympic Center, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946

Director: Alison Haas

E-mail: via website

Tel: 518 302 5326

Website: www.lpom.org

Open: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult/Youth $7, Senior/Junior $5

Much on skiing but also on the other winter sports.  Exhibitions highlight the Games of 1932 and 1980.

 

New England Lost Ski Areas Project (NELSAP)

Digitalized list of closed ski areas

Director: Jeremy Davis

E-mail: nelsap@yahoo.com

Tel: 518 581 8755

Website: www.nelsap.org

Admission: Free

Detailed list on line of closed past ski areas of New England with brochures, photos, tales.

 

Norco, California

California Ski Library

3321 Aryana Ave., P.O. Box 283, Norco, CA 92860

Owner: Ingrid P. Wicken

E-mail: ingrid@skilibrary.com

Tel: 951 207 9218

Website: www.skilibrary.com

Open: By appointment only

Admission: Free

One of the finest ski libraries in the USA.  Documentation on western US skiing.

 

Park City, Utah

Park City Historical Society and Museum

528 Main St., P.O.Box 555, Park City, UT84060

Director: Morgan Pierce

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 649 7457

Website: http://parkcityhistory.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—19.00

            Sunday 12.00—18.00

Admission: Adult $12, Senior/Student $10, Child $5

Much on mining and ski history.

 

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Tread of Pioneers Museum

800 Oak St., P.O. Box 772372, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Executive Director: Candice Bannister

E-mail: cbannister@treadofpioneers.org

Tel: 970 879 2214

Website: www.treadofpioneers.org

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and Monday

Admission: Adult $6, Senior $5, Child $2

Local museum with display of skiing personalities and material.

 

Stratton Mountain, Vermont

Stratton Mountain Foundation

Stratton Foundation, 2D Village Square, P.O. Box 523, Stratton Mountain, VT 05155

E-mail: info@strattonfoundation.org

Tel: 802 277 2096

Open:  Only by appointment

Stratton Mountain archives of local area and papers of personalities.

 

Washington, DC

Sir Arnold Lunn Papers, Lauinger Library, Georgetown University

Special Collections, Lauinger Library, 37th & O Streets, Washington DC 20057

Contact: Essential for appointments to see special collections: www.library.georgetown.edu/special-collections/contact

E-mail: https://findingaids.library.georgetown.edu

Tel: 202 6878 0100

Website: www.library.georgetown.edu

Open: Essential to call for hours special collections are open

21 linear feet of Arnold Lunn’s correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, ephemera from 1896-1978.

 

 

COLLECTIONS and LIBRARIES now in STORAGE or in CLOSED museums:

 

AUSTRIA/LIECHTENSTEIN

Noldi Beck’s collection, once on display in Liechtenstein, is believed to be in Austria.  Once it has been inventoried, there is a hope that it will be exhibited.  The ‘drama’ is best followed in an article by Bernhard Odehnal, “Ein Museum verschwindet” (“A Museum Vanishes”) in the Swiss Tagesanzeiger 28 October 2017.

The Austrian Alpine Association in Innsbruck is closed (April 2018) while they look for new premises.  However, the digitalized lists can be searched, so I have left it as an entry.

 

CANADA

Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, as of April 2018, is planned for Mont Tremblant, Quebec.  The Executive Director: Joanne Heward can be reached at 514-715-0245 or at joanne@hewardgroup.com.  No opening date yet.

 

USA

Beekley International Collection of Art and Library in storage in Westminster, Colorado while searching for a new venue.  Open to research by appointment only.  For information: Natale Messina, P.O. Box 426, Plantsville, CT 06479 and/or tel: 860 240 6027 and email:  nmessina@legacyfws.com.  Or from Kim Carrera email: Kcarrera1@cox.net.

Neptune Mountaineering and Ski Museum (Boulder, Colorado) is in storage until further notice.

Olympic Museum (Squaw Valley, California) and Sierra Ski History Museum (Tahoe City, California)—see note at Soda Springs.

Timestamp
Wed, 08/17/2022 - 1:32 PM

Ski Museums of the World 2018

Updated March, 2021

By E. John B. Allen

Of the 128 nations (up from 110 in 2012) that belong to the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), 21 have established museums focusing on the history of skiing. Some are entirely devoted to skiing; some are part of a small, local museum; others are simply one section within a broader collection of folk material; and a few private collections are listed. The dozens of ski museums and libraries in this list are not all of a kind—but for skiers and snowboarders interested in the rich heritage of what we now call “snowsports,” any would merit a visit.

Skis were on public view as early as 1655, but the first dedicated ski museum was founded in Norway in 1923 and is now in its 95th year, still remaining in the same area at Holmenkollen, bordering Oslo’s own skiing grounds, the Nordmarka. But the huge majority of museums are post-World War II creations, many initiated by individuals like Theodor Hüttenegger in Mürzzuschlag, Austria, and Gilbert Merlin in Grenoble, France. In the United States, many ski museums were started by individuals but then, in an effort to raise money, transformed into Halls of Fame. American museums are all private ventures, although a few may receive some government funding at the local, regional or national level.

Ski heritage and its preservation rely heavily on specialized libraries, many of them an integral part of a museum. Others are beholden to an institution of learning, such as the library of the Deutsche Sporthochschule, the German Sports University in Cologne. Other leading resources include the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its massive Olympic museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the FIS, which has sponsored a half-dozen conferences on the history of skiing.

From amassing “a bunch of old stuff” in the early days, ski museums have made significant progress in recent years with computerized collection management and archival treatments of wood and cloth, film and photographs, documents and art. The online “digital museum” or “virtual museum” is the latest trend, consisting solely of a Website-based collection of images and information. At the moment, the two most successful online-only collections are the Austrian Olympic Committee’s museum and Luzi Hitz’ and Pierre Schneider’s “Swiss History of Skiing” museum. This sophisticated approach requires major financial support. Europeans have to persuade their municipalities, county and national governments to send Euros in their direction, while Americans try hard to increase membership to finance and improve their museums and libraries.

Over the past 42 years, I have visited many ski-related museums; for an historian, there is nothing like seeing the actual artifacts. Many of the museums have specialized libraries and are invaluable for anyone interested in following the old ski tracks. It was a natural project for me to publish a list for other interested parties. The list, last updated in 2012, had 119 entries; this new one contains 151—the latest addition being the archive of the Ski Club of Great Britain that was added to the Special Collections of De Montfort University in Leicester in February 2018. There are a further half-dozen museums waiting in the wings or in storage.

As ski travelers and students of ski history, I hope you will find it useful. But be warned: Some of the information came from websites or e-mail correspondence, information that can easily change. It is always wise to contact the museum ahead of a visit, and a requirement for anyone working on a research project. —E. John B. Allen

 

AUSTRALIA

Mount Buller, Victoria

National Alpine Museum of Australia, Inc.

Level 1 Alpine Central, Summit Road, Mt. Buller, Victoria 3723

Curator: Michelle Stevenson

E-mail: info@nama.org

Tel: +61 418 976 338

Website: www.nama.org.au

Open Winter: Saturday 12.00 – 15.00

Open Summer: Saturday 11.00 – 15.00.  Every second Thursday 11.00 – 15.00.

Admission: Free

 

Thredbo, New South Wales

Thredbo Ski Museum

Thredbo Historical Society, P.O. Box 6, Thredbo, NSW 2625

Contact: Christina Webb

E-mail: via website

Tel: +61 2 9449 7610

Website: www.thredboskimuseum.com

Open: 26 December – 26 January (closed Mondays)

            February, March, April, October weekends and public holidays

            July - September daily (closed Mondays)

            Call for hours

 Closed: May, November, December 1 – 25

Admission: Free

 

 

AUSTRIA

Damüls, Vorarlberg

FIS Skimuseum Damüls

Kirchdorf 138, 6884 Damüls

Director/Curator: Christian Lingenhöle

E-mail: info@damuels.travel

Tel: +43 5510 6200

Website: www.damuels.travel

Open: December—April, and June—September: Tuesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Closed: May, October, November

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Vorarlberg skiing and ski production and competition. Victor Sohm, Hannes Schneider, Georg Bilgeri featured.

 

Haus im Ennstal, Steiermark/Styria

Wintersportmuseum

Schlossplatz 189, 8967 Haus im Ennstal

Director: Willi Wawra

E-mail: wintersportmuseum@haus.at

Tel: +43 3686 2207-17

Website: www.haus.at/de/kultur/wintersportmuseum.php

Open: Tuesdays 10.00 – 12.00 and Wednesdays 16.30 – 20.30 and by appointment

Admission: €2 ($2.50), children: €1 ($1.25)

 

Hinterstoder, Oberösterreich/Upper Austria

Alpineum Hinterstoder

4573 Hinterstoder

Contact: Sabrina Plursch

E-mail: hinterstoder@pyhrn-priel.net

Tel: +43 7564 5263 99

Website: www.alpineum.at

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

           Weekends by arrangement

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2.20 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits showing change from mountain farm village to summer and winter tourism. Strong on local skiing with downhill simulator and avalanche detector exhibits.

 

Hirschegg, Vorarlberg

Wintersportmuseum im Walserhaus

Walserhaus, Walserstrasse 64, 6992 Hirschegg

E-mail: info@walserhaus.at

Tel: +43 5517 5114 460

Website: www.walserhaus.at

Open: Monday-Saturday 9.00—17.00.  Sundays and holidays 8.00—15.00

Admission: Free

 

Hochpillberg, Tirol

Schimuseum Hotel Grafenast

Bio-Hotel Grafenast, Pillbergstrasse 205, 6130 Hochpillberg

E-mail: sehnsucht@grafenast.at

Tel: +43 5242 63209

Website: www.grafenast.at

Open: By appointment

Admission: Free

Private collection of the Unterlechner family.

 

 

Lilienfeld, Nieder Österreich/Lower Austria

Bezirks-Heimatmuseum mit Zdarsky-Skimuseum und Archiv

Babenbergerstrasse 3, 3180 Lilienfeld

Director: Heinz Eppensteiner

E-mail: tourismus@lilienfeld.at or bez.heimatmuseum-lilienfeld@aon.at

Tel: +43 2762 52478 or +43 2762 52478

Website: www.zdarsky-ski-museum.at

Open: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 16.00-18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Student €2.50 ($3)

Best museum for Mathias Zdarsky

 

Mürzzuschlag, Steiermark/Styria

Winter!Sport!Museum!

Wienerstrasse 13, 8680 Mürzzuschlag

Director: Hannes Nothnagl

E-mail: office@wintersportmuseum.com

Tel: +43 3852 3504

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.com    

NB:  Museum is being reorganized; probable reopening date is January 2019, admission hours and fees will be announced.

Large museum, excellent collections, good library.

 

Seefeld, Tirol

Olympic and Nostalgia Exhibition (1964, 1976 Winter Olympic Games) in the Rosshütte Panoramic Restaurant above Seefeld

E-mail: info@rosshuette.at

Tel: +43 5212 2416-0

Website: www.seefeld-sports.at                  

Open: call to find out dates and times

Admission: Free

 

St. Anton am Arlberg, Tirol

The Museum of St. Anton in the Kandahar Haus

Rudi-Matt-Weg 10, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg

E-mail: office@museum-stanton.com

Tel: +43 5446 22690

Website: www.museum-stanton.com

Open: Winter: 12.00—18.00.  Summer not announced (April 2018)

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2 ($2.50)

Local history.  Emphasis on Hannes Schneider period.

 

Werfenweng, Salzburg

Salzburger FIS Landes-Skimuseum

Weng 138, 5453 Weng

Director: Hans Müller

E-mail: info@skimuseum.at

Tel: +43 664 50 000 96

Website: www.werfenweng.eu/EN/129-FIS-Landes-Skimuseum.html

Open: May—October: Monday, Friday, Sunday 13.00-17.00

            November—April: Monday, Friday, Sunday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25). Senior/Student €3.50 ($4.50), Child €2.50 ($3) Family €10 ($12.50)

Local history with emphasis on Rudolf Lettner’s steel ski edges.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

 

Gröbming, Steiermark/Styria

Heimatmuseum Gröbming

Dr. Franz-Xavier-Mayr Strasse 123, 8962 Gröbming

Contact: Hubert Pleninger

E-mail: pleninger@aon.at

Tel: +43 664 960 5006 or +43 3685 22 573

Website: www.museum-gb.at

Open: From 18 June 2018—31 October: Thursday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 10.00—12.00.     

            Other times by appointment.

Admission: Free

Local museum including small regional ski development.

 

Jochberg, Tirol

Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum

Schulgasse 3, 6373 Jochberg

Curator: Anneliese Hechenberger

E-mail: info@museum-jochberg.at

Tel: +43 664 330 6302

Website: www.museum-jochberg.at

Open: Year round: Tuesday 17.00—19.00

            Group arrangements can be made for other times

Admission: Free

Small collection of ski material.

 

Kitzbühel, Tirol

Museum Kitzbühel

Hinterstadt 32, 6370 Kitzbühel

E-mail: info@museum-kitzbuehel.at

Tel: +43 5356 67274

Website: www.museum-kitzbuehel.at

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—18.00

            Thursday 14.00—20.00 and Saturday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: €6.50 ($8).  Free for under 18.

Many paintings by Alfons Walde.

 

Lech, Vorarlberg

Walsermuseum Lech-Tannberg

6764 Lech

E-mail: museumvereine@aon.at

Tel: +43 5583 2213 36

Website: www.vorarlbergermuseen.at/museen/walsermuseum-lech-tannberg/information

Open: Wednesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Ski display among many others.

 

 

Mariazell, Steiermark/Styria

Mariazell Heimatmuseum

Wienerstrasse 35, 8630 Mariazell

E-mail: mariazeller.heimathaus@aon.at

Tel: +43 3882 431 26

Website: www.mariazeller-heimathaus.at/heimathaus/wintersport

Open: Call ahead for days and hours

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Youth €3 ($3.75), Family €12 ($15)

Small section of skis among local history artifacts.

 

Saalbach, Salzburg

Skimuseum und Heimathaus Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Dorfplatz 36, 5753 Saalbach

E-mail: gemeinde@saalbach.at

Tel: +43 664 4767 807

Website: www.saalbach.or.at/de/einrichtungen/heimathausskimuseum

Open: July-August: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            End of May, June, September: Tuesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            Winter: 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult € 4.50 ($6), Child €2 ($2.50), Family €9 ($11.25)

 

Wien/Vienna

Österreichisches Olympiamuseum: this is the virtual museum of the Austrian Olympic Committee

E-mail: office@olympia.at [the e-mail of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Tel: +43 1799 5511 [telephone of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Website: www.olympia.at/museum

 

Vordernberg, Steiermark/Styria

Erzbergbahn- und Wintersportmuseum

Hauptstrasse 140, 8794 Vordernberg

Contact: Helma Moitzi

E-mail: office@erzbergbahn.at

Tel: +43 3849 832 or +43 3849 6246

Website: www.vordernberg.at/geschichte/museum.html

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), child €1 ($1.25)

This railway museum also exhibits ski material.

 

 

Innsbruck, Tirol

Österreichischer Alpenverein/Austrian Alpine Association

Olympiastrasse 37, 6020 Innsbruck

Contact: Veronika Raich

E-mail: veronika.raich@alpenverein.at

Tel: +43 512 595 47-19

Website: www.alpenverein.at

Closed: while looking for new premises (April 2018). 

Available: Lists of ski material from the Alpine Clubs of Germany, Austria, and the South Tirol can be found at www.historiches-alpenarchiv.org.

.

 

Schruns, Vorarlberg

Montafon Folk Museum and Montafon Archive

Kirchplatz 15, 6780 Schruns

Director: Michael Kasper

E-mail: info@montafoner-museen.at

Tel: +43 5556 74723

Website: www.montafoner-museen.at

Open: Museum: 12 June—26 October 2018: Tuesday—Friday and Sunday 14.00—18.00

            Archive: By appointment

Closed: Monday and Saturday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth and Child Free

Regional museum that also contains ski material and much documentation.

 

 

CANADA

Banff, Alberta

Canadian Ski Museum West

Cascade Plaza, 317 Banff Ave., Banff, AB T1L 1C1

Tel: 43 762 8484

Website: www.Banffnationalpark.com/Banff-activities/Banff-museums/Canadian-ski-museum-west

Open: When shopping plaza is open

Admission: Free

Variety of a few artifacts hung in shopping mall.

 

Revelstoke, British Columbia

Revelstoke Ski Museum (part of Revelstoke Museum and Archives)

315 First St. West.  Box 1908, Revelstoke, BC  VOE 250

Curator: Cathy English

E-mail: curator@revelstokemuseum.ca

Tel: 250 837 3067

Website: www.revelstokemuseum.ca

Open: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00, Saturday 11.00—17.00. 

Admissions: Adult $5, Seniors/Teens $4, Family $12

Western Canadian Rocky Mountain skiing.

 

St. Sauveur, Quebec

Musée du Ski des Laurentides/Laurentian Ski Museum

30 Ave. Fillon, St. Sauveur, Québec JOR 1RO

Curator: Nancy Belhumeur

E-mail: Nancy@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 10.00—17.00

            Thursday—Monday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Early skiing in the Laurentians, Emile Cochand, ski trains and village-ski growth.

 

Associated with the Musée du Ski des Laurentides is the Historical Directory of Québec Ski Sites, a virtual museum

Director: Pierre Dumas

E-mail: info@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com/index.php?q=node/221

Ca. 700 past and present ski areas, includes 444 alpine areas with lifts and 98 jumps, and ca. 12,500 documents.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Banff, Alberta

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

111 Bear St., P.O. Box 160, Banff AB T1l 1A3

Head archivist and Librarian: Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron

E-mail: info@whyte.org

Tel: 403 762 2291 x 332

Website: www.whyte.org

Open: 10.00—17.00

Admission: Call before any research visit

Library and photographic records.

 

Calgary, Alberta

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

169 Canada Olympic Way SW, Calgary, AB T3B 6B7

Director: Interim director Janice Smith

E-mail: jsmith@cshof.ca  

Tel: 403 776 1061

Website: www.sporthall.ca

Open: September—June: Wednesday—Sunday 10.00-17.00

            July—August: Monday--Sunday 10.00—17.00

Admission:  Adult Canadian $12 ($9.50), Senior $10 ($8), Youth $8 ($6.50), Family (4) $35 ($28)

 

London, Ontario

The International Centre for Olympic Studies at University of Western Ontario

1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B9

Director: Michael Heine

E-mail: via website

Tel: 519 661 4113

Website: www.uwo.ca/olympic/about/contact_icos.html

Open: Essential to inquire

Admission: Free

Olympic research center contains Avery Brundage papers. Publishes annual Olympika and edited papers of biennial symposia on Olympic research.

 

Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland Museum and Discovery Center

P.O. Box 26, 1100 Hwy 3B, Rossland, BC VOG 1YO

Director: Joelle Hodgins

E-mail: info@rosslandmuseum.ca

Tel: 250 362 7722

Website: www.rosslandmuseum.ca

Open: Mid-May—end June: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

            July—August: Monday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

            Rest of year: Wednesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Adult Canadian $10 ($8) Senior/student $8 ($6.50), Youth $5 ($4), Family (4) $24 ($19)

Small display, emphasis on early skiing from 1896 with Olaus Jeldness.

 

 

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

219 May Street South, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1B5

Exec. Director: Diane Imrie

Curator: Kate Dwyer

E-mail: nwosport@tbaytel.net

Tel: 807 622 2852

Website: www.nwosportshalloffame.com

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Canadian $3 ($2.50)

 

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler Museum and Archives

433 Main St., Whistler, BC VON 1B4

Director and Curator: Bradley Nichols

E-mail: info@whistlermuseum.org

Tel: 604 932 2019

Website: www.whistlermuseum.org

Open: 11.00—17.00 with extended hours Thursday

Admission: Free

Local skiing with emphasis on Olympics 2010.

 

 

 

CHINA

Changchun, Jilin

Vasaloppet museum

Changchun Jingyuetan Park, 5840 Jingyue St., Changchun

Tel: +86 431 8964 5455

Website: www.vasaloppetchina.com

Open: The museum is closed and only open on request.  I am told that it is difficult to make connections with the museum.  The website given and phone number are those for the Chinese Vasaloppet race organization.  There are no specific people, website or telephone for the museum.

 

CZECH REPULIC

Harachov, Liberec Region

Ski Museum Harrachov

Nový Svet 378, Harrachov 512 46

E-mail: turistik@sklarnaharrachov.cz

Tel: +420 603 470 113

Website: www.giant-mountains.info/tourism/ski-museum-harrachov.harachov.html and www.liberecky-kraj.cz

Open: January—December: Wednesday—Friday 14.00—17.00 and Saturday 10.00—17.00

Admission: 70 Koruna ($3.50), Senior 50 K ($2.50), Child 20 K ($1), Family 150 K ($7)

Local development of skiing and especially jumping.

 

Jilemnice, Liberec Region

Krkonosske Muzeum in Jilemnice Castle

Zamek 75, 514 01 Jilemnice

Director: Jan Luštinc

E-mail: kmjilemnice@kmap.cz

Tel: +420 481 543 041

Website: www.kmjilemnice.cz

Open: January—April: 8.00—16.00

            July—August: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—17.00

            November—December: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—16.00

 Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 70 Koruna ($3.50)

Graf Harrach and early skiing in area.

 

Nové Mesto na Morave, Vysočina Region

Horacké Muzeum

Vratislavovo námĕstí 114, 592 31 Nové Mesto

E-mail: horacke.muzeum@nmnm.cz

Tel: +420 566 216

Website: www.hm.nmnm.cz

Open: October—April: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—16.00

            May—June: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

             July—August: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—17.00

             September: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult 40 Koruna ($2), Senior/student 20 Koruna ($1)

Late 19th century skiing in area.

 

ESTONIA

Otepää, Valga County

Talispordimuuseum (Otepää Winter Sports Museum—a branch of the Estonian Sport and Olympic museum, but concentrating on winter sports)

Tehvandi Sports Center, Valga mit 12

Contact: Jana Mae

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee or jana@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 766 3670 or +372 501 6082 (Jana Mae)

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee/info/otepaa-talispordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Friday 11.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), Senior/student €1.50 ($2), Family (4) €5 ($6.25)

General collection with emphasis on cross-country skiing.

 

Tartu

Eesti Spordi-ja Olümpiamuuseum/Estonian Sport and Olympic Museum

15 Rüütli Street, 51005 Tartu

Director: Daimar Lell

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 730 0750

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Sunday 11.00—18.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Olympic exhibits.

 

FINLAND

Helsinki

Suomen Urheilumuseo/Sports Museum of Finland

Olympiastadion, Paavo Nurman tie 1, FI-00250 Helsinki

Director: Pekka Honkanen

E-mail: urheilumeseo@urheilumuseo.fi

Tel: +358 9 434 2250

Website: www.urheilumuseo.fi

Closed: For renovations.  Will reopen in 2019. Admission hours and fees will be announced

Displays, library especially strong in Finnish newspapers and periodicals.

 

Lahti, Päijänne Tavastia Region

Lahti Hiihtomuseo/Lahti Ski Museum

Sports Center (Urheilukeskus), Salpausselänkatu 8, P.O. Box 113, FI 15110 Lahti

Curator: Suvi Kuisma

E-mail: hiihtomuseo@lahti.fi

Tel: +358 50 398 5523 or +358 50 398 5521

Website: www.ladenmuseo.fi

Open:  Tuesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Senior/student €7 ($8.50)

Impressive displays, good library

 

FRANCE

Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise (Besse-en-Chandesse), Puy-de-Dôme

Musée du Ski

Maison de la Reine Margot, 11 Rue Boucherie, 63610 Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise

Owner and Curator: Pierre-André Chauvet

Tel: +33 4 7379 5730

Open: During school holidays: 9.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00

            Other times only by telephone arrangement

Admission: €4.50 ($6)

Large and excellent private collection, small library.

 

Grenoble, Isère

Musée du Ski is part of the Musée Dauphinois

30 Rue Maurice Gignoux, Cedex 1000, 38100 Grenoble

Director: Olivier Cogne

E-mail: musee.dauphinois@cg38.fr

Tel: +33 45758 8901

Website: www.musee-dauphinois.fr

Open: 1 September—31 May: 10.00—18.00

           1 June—31 August: 10.00—19.00

Admission: Free

Excellent collection, much from Rossignol, good library.

 

Les Rousses, Jura

Le Grand Tétras

705 route des Rousses, 39220 Les Rousses, Jura

Owner: Roger Tangueley and Stéphane Tangueley

E-mail: grandtetras39@aol.com

Tel: +33 3846 05113  

Website: www.legrandtetras.troumad.org/Le_musee.html

Open: Thursday 17.00—19.00

Closed: April and October to Christmas

Admission: Free but call ahead

Large and excellent private collection, especially material from the Jura.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Albertville, Savoie

Maison des Jeux Olympiques d’Hiver

11, rue Pargoud, 73200 Albertville

Director: Claire Grangé

E-mail: contact@maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Tel: +33 44793 77571

Website: www.maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—19.00

           Sunday 14.00—19.00

Admission: Adult: €4 ($5), Senior/student €3 ($3.75), Family (3) €11 ($13.50)

Winter Olympic material from 1992.

 

Chamonix, Haute Savoie

Musée Alpin

89 Ave. Michel Croz, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 450 539 998 (Tourist office)

Website: www.chamonix.com/musee-alpin,49-187321,fr.html

Open: 7 April—7 May: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           8 May—25 May: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           1 July—2 September: daily 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—18.00

            3 September—30 September: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 October—4 November: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 December—7 January: 10.00-12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

Closed: See above

Admission: Adult €5.90 ($7). Youth and child free

Local museum, much mountaineering material.  Includes winter sports. Library.

 

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes

Musée National du Sport (moved from Paris in 2014)

Stade Allianz Riviera, Bd. des Jardiniers, 06203 Nice cedex 3

E-mail: contact@museedusport.fr

Tel: +33 4892 24400

Website: www.allianz-riviera.fr/fr/le-musee-national-du-sport

Open: May—September: 10.00—18.00

           October—April: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($8) for permanent or temporary exhibit

                              €8 ($10) for permanent and temporary exhibit

                              Free for youth and free on first Sunday of each month October-April

 

PARIS

Club Alpin Français/French Alpine Club

24 avenue Laumière, 75019 Paris

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 1537 28700

Website: www.ffcam.fr

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 9.00—17.30

           Thursday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday 9.00—12.00

Admission: Free, but call ahead

Many documents of the CAF.  Other CAF sections hold regional library materials too.

 

 

GERMANY

Bernau im Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Ski-Köpfer-Museum—a digitalized museum with texts

Kaiserhausstrasse 27, 79872 Bernau im Schwarzwald

Contact: Walter Strohmeier

E-mail: info@ski-koepfer.de

Tel: +49 7675 1600 25 and +49 7675 1088

Website: www.ski-koepfer.de

Information and details: Contact essential

 

Braunlage, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony [Oberharz]

Heimat- und Skimuseum

Dr.-Kurt-Schroeder-Promenade 4, 38700 Braunlage

Director: Jürgen Schütz

Email: mail@museum-braunlage.de

Tel: +49 5520 1646

Website: www.museum-braunlage.de

Open: Tuesday and Friday 10.00—12.00

Closed: November to mid-December

Admission: Adult €2.50 ($3), Child €1.50 ($2)

Braunlage in late 19th century.

 

Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Schwarzwald Skimuseum

Hugenhof, Erlenbruckerstrasse 35, 79856 Hinterzarten

Director: Brigitte von Savigny

E-mail: info@schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Tel: +49 7652 982 192

Website: www.schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—17.00

            Saturday, Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth €1 ($1.25), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits on Black Forest, Georg Thoma and Sepp Allgeier.

 

Kempten, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Alpinmuseum

Marstallgebäude, Landwehrstrasse 4, 87439 Kempten

Contact: Christine Müller Horn

E-mail: museen@kempten.de

Tel: +49 831 2525 740

Website: www.kempten.de/alpin-museum.html

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Youth €2 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10). First Sunday in month free

History of the Alps, Alpinism and Skiing. Wilhelm Paulcke, Mathias Zdarsky, Georg Bilgeri featured.  Good library.

 

Fischen, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Fischinger Heimathaus

Geschwenderhaus, Hauptstrasse 3, 87538 Fischen

Contact: Florian Ruppaner

E-mail: info@skimuseum-fischen.de

Tel: +49 175 202 1404

Website: www.skimuseum-fischen.de

Open: Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Local heroes and excellent historical ski repair shop.

 

Nesselwang, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Nesselwang

Hauptstrasse 20, 87484 Nesselwang

Contact: Tourist Office

E-mail: info@nesselwang.de

Tel: +49 8361 9230 40

Website: www.nesselwang.de/museen-in-nesselwang.html

Open:  Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Skiing in Allgäu.

 

Oberwiesenthal, Sachsen/Saxony [Erzgebirge]

Oberwiesenthal Ski Museum

Karlsbaderstrasse 3, 09484 Oberwiesenthal

Contact: Brigitte Roscher

E-mail: info@oberwiesenthal.de

Tel: +49 373 487 521

Website: www.oberwiesenthal.com/urlaubsziel/sehenswertes/skimuseum.htm

Open: 1 April—2 December: Monday—Friday 9.30—17.00

                                                 Saturday—Sunday 10.00—13.00

           2 December—31 May: daily 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth free

 

Planegg, Bayern/Bavaria

Deutsches Skimuseum

Hubertusstrasse 1, 82152 Planegg

Director: Gerd Falkner

E-mail: gerd.falkner@deutscherskiverband.de

Tel: +49 898 5790 211

Website: www.deutscherskiverband.de/ueber_uns_skimuseum_uebersicht_de,348.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.30—16.00 and by appointment

Admission: Free

Excellent displays, good library but no longer holds the Luther Archive.

 

Reit im Winkl, Bayern/Bavaria

Skimuseum Alfons Dorner

Contact: Franz Höflinger

E-mail: via website

Tel: +49 8640 800 200

Website: www.reitimwinkl.de/winterurlaub/skimuseum

Open: Winter: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 15.00—17.00

           Summer: Tuesday, Thursday 15.00—17.00

Admission: Free with guest card

Excellent displays from c.1880s on.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Hannover, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony

Niedersächsisches Institut für Sportgeschichte (Lower Saxony Institute for Sport History)

Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg 10, 30169 Hannover

E-mail: info@nish.de

Tel: +49 511 1268 5060

Website: www.nish.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Essential to call

Documents relating mostly to Lower Saxony including the Harz.

 

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsche Sporthochschule/German Sports University

Institut für Sportgeschichte

Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Köln

Director: Stefan Wassong

E-mail: sporthistory@dshs-koeln.de

Tel: +49 221 4982-3740

Website: www.dshs-koeln.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Free but essential to call

Best library for ski materials in Germany. Now holds the Luther Archive.

 

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum

Im Zollhafen 1, 50678 Köln

Secretary: Jennifer Guthof

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.de

Tel: +49 221 33609-0

Website: www.sportmuseum.de

Open: Tuesday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday—Sunday 11.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Concentrates on 1936-1972 Olympic Games. Comparatively little on skiing.

 

Leipzig, Sachsen/Saxony

Leipzig Sportmuseum

Am Sportforum 10, 4105 Leipzig

Director: Gerlinde Rohr

E-mail: sportmuseum.Leipzig@t-online.de

Tel: +49 341 98051 12

Website: www.leipzig-online.de/sportmuseum-leipzig.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Admission: Inquire

Large general collection with some ski material.

 

Peiting, Bayern/Bavaria

Museum im Kloesterle

Kapellenstrasse 1, 86971 Peiting

E-mail: kloesterle-museu@gmx.de

Tel: +49 8861 59961

Website: www.peiting.de/tourismus/.../peiting/museum-im-kloesterle

Open: June—September: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                          Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—16.00

                                          Thursday 14.00—18.00

          October—May: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                     Thursday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Inquire

Skiing is one section of the museum.

 

Winterberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Wintersport Museum Neuastenberg (sometimes called the Westdeutsches Wintersport Museum)

Neuastenbergstrasse 17, 59955 Winterberg

E-mail: info@skimuseum-winterberg.de

Tel: +49 2981 2636

Website: www.skimuseum-winterberg.de

Open: Saturday and Sunday 15.00—17.00 and by appointment

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Child €1.50 ($2)

 

ITALY

Montebelluna, Treviso

Museo dello Scarpone/Museum of the Boot

Vicolo Zuccaareda 5, 31044 Montebelluna

E-mail: info@museoscarpone.it

Tel: +39 423 303282

Website: www.museoscarpone.it

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00, 14.30—17.30

           Saturday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 15.30—19.00

Admission: free

Largest collection of ski boots (among others) including, for example, those of Alberto Tomba.

 

Torino/Turin, Piemontese/Piedmont

Museo Nazionale della Montagna ‘Duca degli Abruzzi’/National Museum of the Mountain ‘Duke of the Abruzzi’

Piazzale Monte del Cappuccini 7, 10131 Torino

Director: Aldo Audisio

E-mail: post@museomontagna.org

Tel: +39 116604 104

Website: www.museuomontagna.org

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Child €7 ($8.50)

Although this is a mountaineering museum, there is much on skiing here, film is specialty.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Temù, Brescia

Museo della Guerra Bianca/Museum of the White War

Via Roma 40, 25050 Temù

Tel: +39 334 648 7127

E-mail: info@museoguerrabianca.it

Website: www.museoguerrabianca.it

Open: Essential to email or call for hours

Admission: Adult €7 ($8.50), Child €4 ($5)

Ski material of World War I mountain warfare.

 

TORINO/TURIN

Club Alpino Italiano, Sezione di Torino/Italian Alpine Club, Turin Section

Via Guiseppe Barboux 1, Torino

E-mail: segreteria@caitorino.it

Tel: +39 11 54 6031

Website: www.caitorino.it

Open: Monday 14.00—18.30

           Tuesday—Friday 10.00—18.30

Admission: Free

Although a mountaineering society, the library has interesting ski material.

 

JAPAN

Nagano, Nagano Prefecture

Nozawaonsen-mura/Ski Museum (also called Japanese Ski Museum)

9780-4 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture

E-mail: info@nozawaski.com

Tel: +81 26985 3418

Website: www.nozawaski.com/summer/skihakubutsukan.php

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.30—16.00

Closed: Thursday, Sunday

Admission: Adult 300 yen ($3), Student 150 yen ($1.50)

Displays European background and then development of skiing in Japan.

 

Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture

Sapporo Olympic Museum

1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0958

Director: Masashi Abe

Tel: +81 11 641 8585

Website: www.sapporo-olympiamuseum.jp

Open: 28 April—4 November: 9.00—18.00

           5 November—26 April: 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult 600 yen ($6), Senior 450 yen ($4.50), Child free

Many displays, especially of Olympics. Prince Takamatsu and Dr. Seishichi Ohno ski collections.

 

LIECHTENSTEIN

Eschen

Geissmann Collection

Rainer Geissmann, Renkwiller, Eschen

E-mail: Geissmann.rainer@adon.li

Private collection of Swiss Schwendener skis. Essential to E-mail for appointment.

 

NORWAY

Kongsberg, Buskerud

Ski Museum in Bergverksmuseet/Ski Museum in the Mining Museum

Hyttegata 3, Kongsberg

E-mail: bergverksmuseet@bvm.no

Tel: +47 9191 3200

Website: https://norsk-bergverksmuseum.no/skihistorisk-samlung

Open: 2 January—16 May: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

           18 May—26 August: daily 10.00-17.00

           28 August—23 December: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 90 NOK ($11.50) Senior/Student 70 NOK ($9), Child 50 NOK ($6)

The ski museum is part of the Mining museum.  Especially strong in Kongsberg region and Birger Ruud materials.

 

Lillehammer, Oppland

Norges Olympiske Museet/Norwegian Olympic Museum

Maihaugveien 1, 2609 Lillehammer

E-mail: post@lillehammer.no

Tel: +47 6128 89000

Website: www.ol.museum.no

Open: September—May: Tuesday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

           June—August: daily 10.00-17.00

Admission: Adult 135 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 95 NOK ($12), Child 65 NOK ($8), Family NOK 335 ($43)

Excellent displays on all Olympics but especially those held in Norway in 1952 and 1994, and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016.

 

Morgedal, Telemark

Norsk skieventyr/ /Norwegian Ski Adventure

3850 Kvitseit, 3848 Morgedal

Director: Kristi Marie Tveit

E-mail: kmt@vtm.no

Tel: +47 3506 9080

Website: www.vest-telemark.museum.no/...norsk-skieventyr-skimuseet-i-morgedal

Open: 26 January—30 April: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                Sunday 11.00--1800

           1 May—14 June: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                        Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                        Sunday 12.00—17.00

          15 June—15 August: daily 10.00—18.00

           16 August—31 August: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—18.00

             1 September—16 December: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                             Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                             Sunday 11.00—18.00

Admission: Adult 100 NOK ($13), Senior/Student 80 NOK ($10), Child 50 NOK ($6.50), Family 250 NOK ($32)

Part of the Vest-Telemark museum system, good displays with special attention to Norheim (house available for visit) and Bjaaland.  Good library.

 

Oslo

Holmenkollen Skimuseet/Holmenkollen Ski Museum

Kongsveien 5, 0787 Oslo

Director: Åslaug Midtdal

E-mail: 

Aslaug.midtdal@skiforeningen.no

Tel: +47 917 69 758

Website: www.skiforeningen.no/en/holmenkollen/skimuseet

Open:  October—April: 10.00—16.00

             May—September: 10.00—17.00

             June—August: 9.00—20.00

Admission:  Adult 140 Kroner ($18), Senior/Student 120 Kr ($15), Child 70 Kr (49), Family (4) 350 Kr ($45)

The world’s most comprehensive ski museum.  Call ahead for research purposes.

 

Tromsø, Troms

Polarmuseet, Polar museum

Søndre Tollbodgate 11, 9008 Tromsø

E-mail: via website

Tel: +47 776233 60

Website: www.uit.no

Open: 1 January—14 June: 11.00—17.00

           15 June—15 August: 9.00—18.00

           16 August—31 December: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior 30 NOK ($4), Family (4) 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the university museum and the polar museum.

Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and also Helmer Hanssen and Hjalmar Johansen with Amundsen to S. Pole.

 

Tromsø, Troms

Tromsø Universitetsmuseet/Tromsø University Museum

P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, 9037 Tromsø

Contact: Anita Maurstad

E-mail: postmottak@tmu.uit.no

Tel: +47 776 450 01

Website: https://uit.no

Website for skis: www.unimus.no/etnografi/tmu/samling/index.php

 

Open: 1 June—31 August: 9.00—18.00

           1 September—31 May: Monday—Friday 10.00—16.30

                                                  Saturday 12.00—15.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior/Student/Child 30 NOK ($4), Family 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the University Museum and the Polar Museum

General exhibits on northern life, especially Sami culture.  Some ski material including ca. 25 skis.

 

Trondheim, Trøndelag

Skimuseet Sverresborg, part of the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkmuseet

Sverresborg Allé 13, Postboks 1107, 7020 Trondheim

E-mail: post@sverresborg.no

Tel: +47 7389 0100

Website: www.sverresborg.no

Open: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—15.00

           Saturday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 125 NOK ($16), Senior/Student 110 NOK ($14), Child Free

Ski museum is among a large number of buildings which comprise the Folk Museum of the area

 

Trysil, Hedmark

Trysil-Knut Ski Museum

Vestsidevegen 4, 2420 Trysil

E-mail: rvingels@gmail.com

Tel: +47 918933 77

Website: www.expology.com/trysil-knut

Open: By appointment only: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—19.00

Admission: 40 NOK ($5)

Small museum, nice displays.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Alta, Finnmark

World Heritage Rock Art Centre—Alta Museum

Altaveien 19, 9518 Alta

Director: Harriet Hagen

E-mail: post@altamuseum.no

Tel: +47 41756330

Website: www.alta.museum.no

Open: 2 January—13 May: Monday—Friday: 9.00—15.00

                                             Saturday—Sunday: 11.00—16.00

           14 May—8 June: daily 8.00—17.00

            9 June—19 August: daily 08.00—20.00

           20 August—14 September: daily 08.00—17.00

           15 September—30 December: Monday—Friday 9.00—15.00

                                                             Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Summer/Winter (1 May—30 September/1 October—30 April): Adult 115/75 NOK ($16/10), Senior 105/65 NOK ($13/8), Student 100/55 NOK ($13/7), Child 35/20 NOK ($5/3)

Impressive rock carving. Exhibition jumping and Bjorn Wirkola.

 

Elverum, Hedmark

Norsk Skogbruksmuseet/Norwegian Forestry Museum

Solørvegen 151, 2407 Elverum

Director: Bjørn Bækkelund

E-mail: skogmus@annomuseum.no

Tel: +47 6240 9000

Website: www.skogmus.no

Open: 24 June—13 August: 10.00—17.00

           Rest of the year: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 110 NOK ($13.50), Senior 80 NOK ($10), Youth/child 60 NOK ($7.50)

Concentrates on forestry, hunting and fishing and few skis on view. To see the 100 skis in storage appointment must be made for Monday-Friday 10.00—15.30 at bookingskogmus@annomuseum.no.

 

Oslo

Norskfolkemuseum/Norwegian Folk Museum

Museumveien 10, Bygdøy, 0287 Oslo

Conservator: Morten Bing

E-mail: post@norskfolkemuseum.no

Tel: +47 2212 3700

Website: www.norskfolkemuseum.no

Open: 15 May—14 September: daily 10.00—18.00

            15 September—14 May: Monday—Friday 11.00—15.00

                                                     Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 130 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 100 NOK ($13), Child 40 NOK ($5), Family 260 NOK ($33)

The ski material is digitalized at www.digitalmuseum.no/search/?q=Ski&aq=owner%3F%3A%22NF%22

.

 

POLAND

Cieklin, Subcarpathian Voivodeship

Muzeum Narciarstwa w Cieklin: Stanisław Barabasz Ski Museum in Cieklin

38-222 Cieklin

Director: Wiesław Czechowicz

Scientific Director: Leon Rak

E-mail: muzeumnarciarstwa@op.pl; leorak1964@gmail.com and lrak@ajd.czest.pl

Tel: +48 791 994 591

Website: www.muzeum-narciarstwa.pl

Open: Wednesday 9.00—14.00

           Saturday 9.00—11.00

           Other times by arrangement

Admission: Free

Tadeusz Wowkonowicz and Stanisław Barabasz archives, and local ski development.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Warsaw

Muzeum Sportu i Turystyki/Museum of Sport and Tourism

Pope Jan Pawell (John Paul) II Olympic Center, ul. Wybrzeże Gdyńskie 4, 01-531 Warszawa

Director: Tomasz Jagodziński

E-mail: muzsport@muzeumsportu.waw.pl

Tel: +48 225 603 780

Website: www.muzeumsport.waw.pl

Open: Wednesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

           Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: 12 zloty ($3.50).  Saturday: Free

Skiing presented among other sports. Large library, museum publications.

 

Zakopane, Maloposkie/Province of Lesser Poland

Muzeum Tatrazańskie/ Museum of the Tatra Mountains

ul. Krupówki 10, 34-500 Zakopane

Director: Anna Wende-Surmiak

E-mail: biuro@muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Tel: +48 182 0152 05

Website: www.muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Open: 1 January—30 April: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           1 May—30 September: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—18.00

           1 October—31 December: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           Year round Sundays: 9.00—15.00

Library open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Archives open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—15.00

Admission: 7 zloty ($2)

Ski material and excellent photographs among much local history.

 

RUSSIA

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Moscow

State Historical Museum

Red Square 1, Moscow 109012

Tel: +7 495 692 4019

Website: www.shm.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Information about the few bog skis held in this museum comes from Natalia I. Astashova, “Skis from the Archeological Collections of the State Historical Museum,” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998.  Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998, 89-94.

 

St. Petersburg

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

University Embankment 3, 199034 St. Petersburg

Website: www.kunstkamera.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Tel: +7 812 328 0812

Information about the few skis held in this museum comes from Tatyana Shrader, “Skis in Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (The Kunstkammer),” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998. Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998,  13-15.

 

SLOVENIA

Begunje, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

ELAN Alpine Ski Museum

4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem

Director: Tomaž Šlibar

E-mail: info@elanskimuseum.com

Tel: +386 453 511 09

Website: www.elanskimuseum.com

Open: 15 April—15 September: Tuesday—Thursday 10.00—19.00

                                                    Friday—Saturday 10.00—20.00

            16 September—14 April: Tuesday—Thursday, Sunday 10.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Note: Groups by appointment outside listed times

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Senior/Student €4 ($5), Child €3 ($3.75)

This is the ELAN factory museum.

 

Planica, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Planiški muzej/Planica Museum in the Nordic Center Planica

Rateče 4283

E-mail: info@nc-planica.si

Tel: +386 316 898 06

Website: www.nc-planica.si

Open: July—August: daily 9.00—20.00.  Rest of year: daily 9.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50)

Excellent displays of jumping and ski flying.

 

 

Pohorje

Smučarski Mozej Pohorje/Pohorje Ski Museum

Hočko Pohorje 36b, 2208 Pohorje

Owner and Curator: Prof. Dr. Duško Uršič

E-mail: dusko.ursic@um.si

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adults €10 ($13), child up to 15: free

Largest private collection in Slovenia.  Opening Summer 2021.

 

Tržič, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Tržiški muzej—Slovenski smučarski muzej, Tržič/Tržič Museum—Slovenian Ski Museum

Muzejska 11, 4290 Tržič

Curator: Boštjan Meglič

E-mail: trziski.muzej@siol.net

Tel: + 386 4592 3810

Website: www.trziski-muzej.si

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Senior/Student, Child €2 ($2.50), Family €5 ($6.25)

Ski materials are only one part of the museum.

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Bloke

Nova vas 4 a, 1385 Nova vas, Bloke

Contact: Matej Pakiž

E-mail: obcina.bloke@bloke.si

Tel: +386 1709 8918 or +386 313 261 58

Open: Call ahead

Exhibition is sponsored by the municipality of Bloke (Občina Bloke)

Emphasis on local skis.  Bloke considers itself the founding place of Slovenian skiing.

 

Ljubljana

Muzej Športa/[Slovenian] Sports Museum

Kopitarjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana

Director: Tomaž Pavlin

E-mail: info@muzejsporta.si

Tel: +386 1431 8340

Website: https://museu.ms/museum/details/35/muzej-sporta

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—14.00

Closed: Saturday, Sunday

Admission: Free

Most of the ski material has been moved to the complex at Planica. Good library, especially on Olympics.

 

Maribor, Podravska/Drava

Vojaški muzej slovenske vojske/Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces

Kadetnica, Engelsova 15, 2111 Maribor

Contact: Gregor Kastelic

E-mail: gregor.kastelic@mors.si

Tel: +386 2449 5006

Website: www.vojaskimuzej.si

Open: January, February, June—September: 10.00—17.00

           March—May, October, November: 10.00—15.00

           Saturday, Sunday during the holidays: 10.00—15.00

Admission: Free but call before visit

The museum is inside the main building of the officers’ military training college and has minor displays on skiing.

 

Mojstrana, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Slovenski planinski muzej/Slovenian Alpine Museum

Triglavska cesta 49, 4281 Mojstrana

Contact: Miro Eržen

E-mail: info@planinskimuzej.si

Tel: +386 8380 6730

Website: www.planinskimuzej.si

Open: 1 June—14 September: 9.00—19.00

           15 September—31 May: 9.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Senior/Student €3.60 ($4.50), Family €13 ($16)

A  mountain museum with occasional ski-mountaineering material.

 

SPAIN

Unha, Lleida

Musèu dera Nhèu/The Snow Museum

Santa Eulàlia 17-19, Unha-Naut Aran

E-mail: vielha@baqueira.es

Tel: +34 973 644 030

Website: www.bazueira.es/aran-aneu/vall-aran/aran-museos

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10.00—13.00

           Thursday, Friday, Saturday 17.00—20.00      

Closed: Sunday                                                                                                     

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Student €2 ($2.50), Child free

Snow seen from a scientific, ethnological, and sporting point of view. 

 

SWEDEN

Åsarna, Jamtland

Skimuseum Åsarna

Åsarna Ski Center, Olstavägen 45, 840 31 Åsarna

E-mail: info@asarnaskicenter.se

Tel: +46 687 302 30

Website: www.asarnaskicenter.se

Open: June—August: 9.00—20.00

           September—May: 9.00—19.00

Admission: 20 SKR ($2.50)

 

Mora, Dalarna

Vasaloppsmuseet/The Vasalopp Museum

792-32 Mora

E-mail: info@vasaloppet.se

Tel: +46 250 392 25

Website: www.vasaloppet.se

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8.00—16.30

           Thursday 9.00—15.00

Closed: Monday—Friday 12.00—13.00 and Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Call for prices

Museum of the Vasalopp.  Special exhibits, one on Mora Nisse.

 

Umeå, Västerbotten

Ski Museum is part of Västerbotten museum complex

Helena Elisabethsväg 3, Box 3183, 903 42 Umeå

E-mail: info@vbm.se

Tel: +46 9016 3900                                                                                                       

Website: www.vbm.se

Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—17.00

           Wednesday 10.00—20.00

           Saturday, Sunday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Free

Open air cultural museum of Västerbotten. Incorporates the best ski museum in Sweden, with excellent library.

 

SWITZERLAND

Bad Ragaz, Canton St. Gall/St. Gallen

Jürg Hess Collection

Unterrainstrasse 12, 7310 Bad Ragaz

Owner: Jürg Hess

E-mail: hess_juerg@bluewin.ch

 Tel: +41 79 616 7885

Open: By appointment only

Massive private collection of equipment, especially skis and bindings.

 

Davos, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Wintersport-Museum/Winter Sport Museum

Promenade 43, 7270 Davos Platz

E-mail: andresguler@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 814 132 484

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.ch

Open:  Winter: Tuesday, Thursday 16.30—18.30

             Summer: (Opening 19 June) 16.30—18.30

             Other times by appointment

Closed: April—18 June

Admission: Free

Excellent displays.

 

Lausanne, Canton Vaud/Waadt

Musée Olympique/Olympic Museum

Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne

E-mail: info.museum@olympic.org

Tel: +41 216 216 511

Website: www.olympic.org/museum

Open:1 May—15 October: daily 9.00—18.00

           16 October—30 April: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday 16 October—30 April

Admission: Adult CHF 18 ($18), Senior CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 10 ($10), Family CHF 40 ($40)

Vast museum, excellent displays, includes winter Olympics.  Olympic library and documentation center. Essential to call for research information.

 

Les Bois, Canton Jura

Laurent Donzé Collection

Sous les rangs 31, 2336 Les Blois

E-mail: l.donze@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 794 188 252

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of c.a. 2000 cross-country skis.

 

Oberwald, Canton Valais/Wallis

Toni Hischier’s Ski Museum

Oberwald 3999

Tel: +41 793 299 400

Website: www.obergoms.ch/activities/for-mind-soul/museums

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of over 1000 skis.

 

Swiss Ski Lifts, a virtual museum

Contact: Jakob Schuler

E-mail: via website

Tel: +41 79 894 51 01

Website: www.skilift-nostalgie.ch

Comprehensive on-line depiction of ski lifts in Switzerland.

 

Swiss Ski Museum, a virtual museum

Case Postale 67, 1937 Orsières

Contact: Pierre Schneider

E-mail: info@swissskimuseum.com

Tel: +41 79 736 6947

Website: www.swissskimuseum.com

The most comprehensive on-line depiction and explanation of skiing development in Switzerland founded by Luzi Hitz (d.) and Pierre Schneider.

 

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

 

Arosa, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Heimatmuseum und Kulturarchiv Arosa—Schanfigg

Egga-Hus, 7050 Arosa

E-mail: info@arosa-museum.ch

Tel: +41 796 765 658 and +41 813 771 731

Website: www.arosa-museum.ch

Open: 22 December—13 April: Tuesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

           18 June—19 October: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

Closed: 14 April—17 June and 20 October—21 December

Admission: CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum with local archive.  Essential to call ahead.

 

Bern/Berne

Alpines Museum der Schweiz/Swiss Alpine Museum

Helvetiaplatz 4, 3005 Bern

E-mail: info@alpinesmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 3135 004 40

Website: www.alpinesmuseum.ch

Open: Tuesday—Sunday: 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 6 ($6), Family CHF 35 ($35)

Includes winter sports material, also skis of Hermann Hesse. Good library. 

 

 

Grindelwald, Canton Bern/Berne

Heimatmuseum Grindelwald

Almisgässli, 3, 3818 Grindelwald

Director: Marco Bomio

E-mail: grindelwald-museum@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 338 5343 02

Website: www.grindelwald-museum.ch

Open: 1 June—8 October: Tuesday—Friday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 April—31 May

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 2 ($2)

The winter sport section is on the second floor.

 

Lauterbrunnen, Canton Bern/Berne

Talmuseum Lauterbrunnen

Ey, 3822 Lauterbrunnen

Contact: Esther Graf

E-mail: info@talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Tel: +41 338 553 586

Website: www.talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Open: 3 June—14 October: Tuesday, Thursday—Sunday: 14.00—17.30

Closed: Monday, Wednesday

Closed: 15 October—2 June, but possible entry by arrangement

Admission: Adult 5 CHF ($5)

One of 12 sections is a small display of skis and equipment.

 

Luzern/Lucerne, Canton Luzern/Lucerne

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz/Swiss Transport Museum

Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern

E-mail: mail@verkehrshaus.ch

Tel: +41 413 704 444

Website: www.verkehrshaus.ch

Open: Summer: daily 10.00—18.00

           Winter: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult CHF 32 ($32), Student CHF 22 ($22), Child CHF 12 ($12).  Note these are for museum only.  Other prices apply for various aspects of this large museum

Includes a replica of the Davos-Bolgen ski lift, and much on aerial tramways and their inspection.  Good library.

 

Magglingen/Macolin, Canton Bern/Berne

Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport/Swiss Sports University

Federal Office of Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sports, 2532 Magglingen

E-mail: via internet at ‘media library’

Tel: +41 323 276 226

Website: www.ehsm.ch

Open: Library: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—17.00

Closed: Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Free

No ski exhibits but very good library.  Essential to call ahead.

 

Münchenstein, Canton Basel

Schweizer Sportmuseum/Sport Museum of Switzerland

Reinacherstrasse 1, 442 Münchenstein

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 612 611 221

Website: www.sportmuseum.ch

Open: Wednesday, Friday: 14.00—17.00

Admission: CHF 8 ($8)

Much ski material among vast collection of sport artifacts.  Good library.  Essential to call ahead for research.

 

Näfels, Canton Glarus/Glaris

Museum des Landes Glarus

Freulerpalast, 8752 Näfels

Director: Bettina Giersberg

E-mail: info@freulerpalast.ch

Tel: +41 556 121 378

Website: www.freulerpalast.ch

Open: 1 April—30 November: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: 1 December—31 March but will open for groups by appointment

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Student CHF 5 ($5)

Local museum, skiing being one of seven major exhibits with emphasis on Glarus.

 

Obervaz, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Obervaz Museum

Voa da Solis 2, 7082 Vaz/Obervaz

Director: Anna Maria Elmer-Cantieni

E-mail: museum.vaz@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 813 842 159

Website: www.vazobervaz.ch/sportmuseum

Open:  Call for hours

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum displaying importance of tourism and holding late 19th century skis and a display of local Olympic (1976) star, Heine Hemmi.

 

Pontresina, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Museum Alpin Pontresina

Chesa Delnon Haus, via Maistra 199, 7504 Pontresina

Contact: Annemarie Brülisauer

E-mail: museum@pontresina.ch

Tel: +41 818 427 273

Website: www.pontresina.ch/museumalpin

Open: 11 June—20 October: Monday—Saturday 15.30—18.00

Closed: Sunday

Admission: Adult CHF 8 ($8), Youth and Child CHF 2 ($2)

Local museum with some ski material. Exhibit on 50th anniversary of Engadin marathon.

 

Saas-Fee, Canton Valais/Wallis

Saaser Museum

Dorfstrasse 6, 3906 Saas-Fee

Contact: Damian Bumann

E-mail: museum@3906.ch

Tel: +41 792 202 853 or +41 279 571 475

Website: www.3906.ch/de/leben/kultur/saasermuseum

Open: 18 June—14 October: Tuesday and Thursday 14.30—17.00 and on request

Admission: Adult CHF 5 ($5), Child CHF 2.50 ($2.50)

Local museum with some ski related material.

 

Schönenwerd, Canton Solothurn

Bally Schuhmuseum/Bally Shoe Museum

Oltnerstrasse 6, 5012 Schönenwerd

E-mail: receptioncaslano@bally.ch

Tel: +41 916 129 111

Website: www.bally.com

Open: For individuals only on the last Friday and Saturday of every month.  For groups by arrangement.

Admission: Call ahead

One of the largest collections of boots and shoes with occasional early ski boots.

 

Tramelin, Canton Bern/Berne

Musée du Ski Geiser

In shop Geiser-Sports, Grand-Rue 39, 2720 Tramelin

E-mail: info@geiser-sports.ch

Tel: +41 324 874 160

Website: www.geiser-sports.ch

Open: October—April: Monday 13.30—18.30

                                       Tuesday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—18.30

                                        Saturday 9.00—12.00

           May: Monday—Friday 14.00—18.00

           September: Wednesday 14.00—18.00

Closed: June—August

Admission: Free

The ski museum is in the shop, various exhibits are available for ski clubs etc.

         

Zermatt, Canton Valais/Wallis

Matterhorn Museum

Kirchplatz, Zermatt 3920

E-mail: matterhornmuseum@zermatt.ch

Tel: +41 279 674 100

Website: www.zermatt.ch/en/museum

Open: 9 April—30 June: daily 14.00—18.00

            1 July—30 September: daily 11.00—18.00

            1 October—31 October: daily 15.00—18.00

            23 November—20 December: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 November—22 November

               23 November—20 December Monday--Thursday

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Senior/Student CHF 8 ($8), Child CHF 5 ($5)

Mostly on growth of Zermatt from mountain farm community to summer and winter alpine resort with much on Matterhorn climbing.

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Leicester, Leicestershire

The Ski Club of Great Britain Archives in Special Collections of De Montfort University

Special Collections Kimberlin Library, Leicester LE1 9BH

Archivist: Katharine Short

E-mail: kshort@dmu.ac.uk and archives@dmu.ac.uk

Tel: +44 116 250 6392

Website: www.dmu.ac.uk

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—17.00.  Essential to call ahead for research

Entire archives of Ski Club of Great Britain is now (April 2018) housed at De Montfort University.

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

Boise, Idaho

Glory Days Ski Museum

4432 N. Burnside Place, Boise, ID 83702

Owner: Kirk Luba

E-mail: glorydaysskimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 208 629 8329

Open: By appointment.

Private collection of 1960s-1980s skis.

Davis, West Virginia

Snow Sports Museum of West Virginia

466 William Avenue, Davis, WV 26260 (postal P.O. Box 421)

Executive Director: Andy Snyder

E-mail: ssmwv@icloud.com

Tel: 334-663-1172

Website: www.snowsportsmuseumwv.org

Open: 15 April—31 October: Thursday-Monday 11.00-18.00

            2021 until 11 April: Friday-Sunday 11.00-18.00

Admission: Free

Monthly Newsletter on website. Collections 1950—1990

 

Fort Drum, New York

10th Mountain Deivision & Fort Drum Museum

Building 2509 Col. Reade Road, Fort Drum, NY 13602

Director: to be names Fall 2022

Curator: Kent Bolke

E-mail: 10thmountainmuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 315 774 0391

Website: https://history/army/mil/fieldmuseum/fortDrum/index.html

Open: All year, Tuesdays-Saturdays 9 am-5 pm

Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays

Admission: Free

History of Fort Drum and 10t Mountain Division from beginning to modern deployments.  Military mountaineering and skiing in US army.

 

Franconia, New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum

135 Tramway Drive, P.O. Box 267, Franconia, NH 03580

Executive Director: Jeffrey R. Leich

E-mail: staff@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 823 7177

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: 1 December—ca.15 April: 9.00—17.00

           31 May—ca.15 October: 9.00—17.00

Closed: 15 April—30 May and 15 October—1 December

Admission: Free.  Admission during closed periods by appointment

Exhibits highlight New England skiing.  One of the finest libraries in the USA with manuscript archives and films. Journal is published four times a year.

 

Ishpeming, Michigan

U.S Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

610 Palms Avenue, P.O. Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849

E-mail: Administrator@skihall.com

Tel: 906 485 6323

Website: www.skihall.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and national holidays

Admission: Free

Many exhibits, Roland Palmedo library.

 

Kingfield, Maine

Ski Museum of Maine

256 Maine St., P.O. Box 359, Kingfield, ME 04947

Director: Theresa Shanahan

E-mail: info@skimuseumofmaine.org

Tel: 207 265 2023

Website: www.skimuseumofmaine.org

Open: Year round Monday--Friday 10.00—16.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Maine skiing, with special reference to Sugarloaf and manufacturers.

 

North Conway,  New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum: Eastern Slopes Branch

P.O. Box 1673, North Conway, NH 03860-1673

Manager: Brian Fowler

E-mail: brian@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 730 5044

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—16.00 until further notice

Admission: Free

Irwin Exhibit Hall displays Eastern skiing with special reference to Harvey Dow Gibson and Hannes Schneider. Library.

 

Park City, Utah

Alf Engen Ski Museum located in Olympic complex

Joe Quinney Winter Sports Park, Utah Olympic Park, P.O. Box 980187, Park City, UT 84098

Executive Director: Connie Nelson

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 658 4240

Website: www.engenmuseum.org

Open: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Alf Engen and Utah skiing.  The Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum is also a part of this museum.

 

Red Wing, Minnesota

The American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum

Inside the St. James Hotel, 406 Main St., Red Wing, MN 55066

Contact: St. James Hotel

E-mail: info@americanskijumping.com

Tel: 651 388 2846 (Hotel telephone)

Website: www.americanskijumping.com

Open: On request only, essential to call hotel ahead

Admission: Free

History of jumping, especially Scandinavian immigrants.  Hall of Fame.

 

Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Ski and Snowboard Archives

University of Utah Marriot Library Special Collections, 295 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Manager: Judy Jarrow

E-mail: via website

Tel: 801 581 3421

Website: www.lib.utah.edu

Open: Essential to call ahead

Admission: Free

Documentation on Utah skiing, resort growth and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

 

Sandia Peak, New Mexico

New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame and Ski Museum

Base of Sandia Peak Aerial Tram, 10 Tramway Rd. NE, P.O. Box 09937, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Contact: Jay Blackwood

E-mail: jblackw796@aol.com

Tel: 505 857 8916

Website: www.nmskihall.org

Open: daily 9.00—20.00

Admission: Free

Small museum, local emphasis.

 

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum

At the top of the pass between the Commonwealth Café and Dru Bru Tap Room

P.O. Box 1301, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Contact: Dave Moffett

Email: info@wsssm.org

Tel: 424 434 0827

Website: www.wsssm.org

Open: daily Thursday—Sunday 12.00—17.00 but call to confirm hours

Admission: Free

Washington State ski development and recognized skiers.  Hall of Fame.

 

Soda Springs, California

Western SkiSport Museum

On Donner Pass.  P.O. Box 829, Soda Springs, CA 95728

Director: Bill Clark

E-mail: bclark@inc.auburnskiclub.org

Tel: 530 426 3313 x 101

Website: www.auburnskiclub.com/asctc/about-us/ski-museum

Open: Ski season: daily 10.00—16.00

            Off season: by appointment

Admission: Free

Displays of Western states skiing and of Squaw Olympics. Strong on Sierra “longboard” skiing of the Gold Rush era. Library and documents.

Note: The Museum of Sierra Ski History and the Olympic Museum are presently (April 2018) fundraising and obtaining land permits.  If all goes as planned, the Olympic artifacts from the Western SkiSport Museum will go to the Olympic Museum, and the other artifacts will go to the Museum of Sierra Ski History.  Eventually, the hope is to combine all three in the Olympic Museum (www.olympicskimuseum.org) planned for Squaw Valley opening in 2023.

 

Stowe, Vermont

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

1 South Main St., P.O. Box 1511, The Perkins Building, Stowe, VT 05672

Director: Abby Blackburn

E-mail: info@vermontskimuseum.org

Tel: 802 253 9911

Website: www.vtssm.com

Open: 26 May—15 October: Wednesday—Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday and 16 April—25 May

Admission: Free

Vermont exhibits, also 10th Mountain.

 

Squaw Valley, California

Olympic Museum—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

 

Tahoe City, California

Museum of Sierra Ski History—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

Currently artifacts are displayed at the Gatekeepers Cabin Museum, 130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145

Tel: 530 583 1762

Website: www.tahoecity.org

Open: daily in Summer.  Rest of the year: Wednesday—Sunday.  Call for hours

Local ski history.

 

 

Tannersville, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Ski and Snow Sports Museum

Exhibit at base lodge of Camelback Ski Area, Tannersville, PA 18372

Contact: Paul Prutzman, Goggleworks Suite 506 A, 201 Wahington St., Reading, PA 19601

E-mail: Pasmoffice@gmail.com

Tel: 610 334 4378

Website: www.pasnowsportsmuseum.com

Open: When ski area is open

Admission: Free

Local ski development.  Hall of Fame.

 

Vail, Colorado

Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame

231 South Frontage Road East, P.O. Box 1976, Vail, CO 81657

Director: John McMurtry

E-mail: skimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 970 476 1876

Website: www.skimuseum.net

Open: 5 March 2018 on limited basis due to renovations: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Exhibits Colorado material, extensive 10th Mountain collection

 

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Historical Society

620 West Bleeker St., Aspen, CO 81611

Curator: Lisa Hancock

E-mail: info@aspenhistory.com

Tel: 970 925 3721

Website: www.aspenhistory.com

Open: Call for opening hours

Admission: Free

Documents relating to Aspen’s skiing history.

 

 

Decorah, Iowa

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

520 West Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101

Curator:  Laurann Gilbertson

E-mail: info@vesterheim.org

Tel: 563 382 9681

Website: www.vesterheim.org

Open: 1 May—31 October: 9.00—17.00

           1 November—30 April: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult $10, Senior $8, Youth $5

Museum of Norwegian immigration in the Midwest with small collection on immigrant skiing.

 

Denver, Colorado

10th Mountain Division Resource Center in the Denver Public Library

Denver Public Library, 10 W 14the Ave Parkway, Denver, CO 80204-2731

Archivist: Keli Schmid

E-mail: kschmid@denverplibrary.org

Tel: 720 865 1812

Website: www.denverlibrary.org

 Open: Monday and Tuesday 10.00—20.00

           Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—18.00

           Saturday: 9.00—17.00 and Sunday 13.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Archives of letters, diaries, photos, films with emphasis on World War II.

 

Government Camp, Oregon

Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum

88900 East Hwy 26, Business Loop, P.O. Box 55, Government Camp, OR 97028

Contact: Lloyd Musser or Cheryl Maki

E-mail: info@mthoodmuseum.org

Tel: 503 272 3301

Website: www.mthoodmuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Local museum with ski documents and artifacts from local clubs on second floor.

 

Ketchum, Idaho 

Sun Valley Museum of History

180 East 1st St., P.O. Box 2168, Ketchum, ID 83340

Director of Regional History: Mary Tyson

E-mail: mtyson@comlib.org

Tel: 208 726 8118 and 208 726 3493 x 103

Website: www.ksvhs.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Local material including much on skiing.

 

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum

Olympic Center, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946

Director: Alison Haas

E-mail: via website

Tel: 518 302 5326

Website: www.lpom.org

Open: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult/Youth $7, Senior/Junior $5

Much on skiing but also on the other winter sports.  Exhibitions highlight the Games of 1932 and 1980.

 

New England Lost Ski Areas Project (NELSAP)

Digitalized list of closed ski areas

Director: Jeremy Davis

E-mail: nelsap@yahoo.com

Tel: 518 581 8755

Website: www.nelsap.org

Admission: Free

Detailed list on line of closed past ski areas of New England with brochures, photos, tales.

 

Norco, California

California Ski Library

3321 Aryana Ave., P.O. Box 283, Norco, CA 92860

Owner: Ingrid P. Wicken

E-mail: ingrid@skilibrary.com

Tel: 951 207 9218

Website: www.skilibrary.com

Open: By appointment only

Admission: Free

One of the finest ski libraries in the USA.  Documentation on western US skiing.

 

Park City, Utah

Park City Historical Society and Museum

528 Main St., P.O.Box 555, Park City, UT84060

Director: Morgan Pierce

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 649 7457

Website: http://parkcityhistory.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—19.00

            Sunday 12.00—18.00

Admission: Adult $12, Senior/Student $10, Child $5

Much on mining and ski history.

 

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Tread of Pioneers Museum

800 Oak St., P.O. Box 772372, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Executive Director: Candice Bannister

E-mail: cbannister@treadofpioneers.org

Tel: 970 879 2214

Website: www.treadofpioneers.org

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and Monday

Admission: Adult $6, Senior $5, Child $2

Local museum with display of skiing personalities and material.

 

Stratton Mountain, Vermont

Stratton Mountain Foundation

Stratton Foundation, 2D Village Square, P.O. Box 523, Stratton Mountain, VT 05155

E-mail: info@strattonfoundation.org

Tel: 802 277 2096

Open:  Only by appointment

Stratton Mountain archives of local area and papers of personalities.

 

Washington, DC

Sir Arnold Lunn Papers, Lauinger Library, Georgetown University

Special Collections, Lauinger Library, 37th & O Streets, Washington DC 20057

Contact: Essential for appointments to see special collections: www.library.georgetown.edu/special-collections/contact

E-mail: https://findingaids.library.georgetown.edu

Tel: 202 6878 0100

Website: www.library.georgetown.edu

Open: Essential to call for hours special collections are open

21 linear feet of Arnold Lunn’s correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, ephemera from 1896-1978.

 

 

COLLECTIONS and LIBRARIES now in STORAGE or in CLOSED museums:

 

AUSTRIA/LIECHTENSTEIN

Noldi Beck’s collection, once on display in Liechtenstein, is believed to be in Austria.  Once it has been inventoried, there is a hope that it will be exhibited.  The ‘drama’ is best followed in an article by Bernhard Odehnal, “Ein Museum verschwindet” (“A Museum Vanishes”) in the Swiss Tagesanzeiger 28 October 2017.

The Austrian Alpine Association in Innsbruck is closed (April 2018) while they look for new premises.  However, the digitalized lists can be searched, so I have left it as an entry.

 

CANADA

Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, as of April 2018, is planned for Mont Tremblant, Quebec.  The Executive Director: Joanne Heward can be reached at 514-715-0245 or at joanne@hewardgroup.com.  No opening date yet.

 

USA

Beekley International Collection of Art and Library in storage in Westminster, Colorado while searching for a new venue.  Open to research by appointment only.  For information: Natale Messina, P.O. Box 426, Plantsville, CT 06479 and/or tel: 860 240 6027 and email:  nmessina@legacyfws.com.  Or from Kim Carrera email: Kcarrera1@cox.net.

Neptune Mountaineering and Ski Museum (Boulder, Colorado) is in storage until further notice.

Olympic Museum (Squaw Valley, California) and Sierra Ski History Museum (Tahoe City, California)—see note at Soda Springs.

 

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Wherever there’s a sports hall of fame, controversy inevitably arises about who is elected and how. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall ofFame (USSHoF) is no exception. The first criticism of the nomination and election process appeared in SKI Magazine only a dozen years after the Ski Hall of Fame was created in 1956. The Hall came under fire again in the 1990s for honoring developers rather than U.S. Ski Team athletes.

Its latest critic is John Stifter, the editor of Powder Magazine, who believes the opposite: that the highly organized, well-funded U.S. Ski Team dominates selection.  Stifter posted on his magazine’s Website a critique of the USSHoF after he attended its annual induction event in Seattle in April 2012. In his commentary, he noted the high number of deceased skiers on the Honor Roll, challenged its location in Ishpeming, Michigan, and questioned, from his research, the apparent priority of former U.S. Ski Team members over thehigh-profile skiers who are the heroes for today’s skiers and snowboarders. He noted the existence of a proposed new ActionSports Hall of Fame, encouraging it to honor skiers and snowboarders whom he believes are ignored or neglected by USSHoF.

Here’s a digest of what Stifter wrote:

While in Seattle in April 2012 to honor K2 Skis’ 50th anniversary and the induction of new honored members into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, I was, ironically, embarrassed by the sport of skiing. Blue hairs—-some humble and insightful, most not so much—-glad-handed one another as if they were at a political party fundraiser.

I sat in the cold, dark parking garage that was supposed to serve asa banquet hall for the 2012 induction ceremony, musing to myself what a joke it all was. It seemed as if inductees were either a former U.S. Ski Teamer or someone too old toeven accept their induction. What sport were we supposedly honoring? Because it sure as hell didn’t reflect the one I revere.

Aside from reading about Glen Plake’s induction in 2010, I had hardly heard of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, save for a failed attempt to visit the Hall in Ishpeming, Michigan. Yes, rather than Little Cottonwood Canyon or Jackson Hole or even Colorado’s Summit County, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame exists on the skiing hotbed of the Upper Peninsula (eh!). Fuming that this hall of fame “represents” our sport, I did some research and discovered these sad facts. Of the 385 members, seven out of ten are deceased. Shane Mc-Conkey and Glen Plake are the only non-U.S. Ski Team members inducted for their ski accomplishments from the last 25 years. Sorry, Daron Rahlves, you don’t count in this case. Non-U.S. Ski Teamers like Monty Atwater, Stein Eriksen, Dick Barrymore, and Warren Miller are members, but not Wayne Wong, Schmidt, Stump, Hattrup, Fisher, Morrison, Kreitler or Pollard. Excluded is a majority of the most nfluential skiers to ever buckle their boots and, arguably, kept the sport relevant and cool.

Despite it being the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, only two snowboarders—Jake and Donna Burton Carpenter—have been elected. A U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame official told me that Craig Kelly is being considered. [Editor’s note: In early November 2012, the USSHoF announced its Class of 2012, which includes Wayne Wong and Craig Kelly; see page 11 of the Nov-Dec issue of Skiing Heritage. The selection process was well underway when Stifter contacted the Hall last summer, and was not influenced by his commentary.]

Fortunately, a more contemporary hall of fame is about to launch. The Action Sports Hall of Fame opened online on May 1, 2012. At Xhall.org you can view, nominate, and vote for surfers, skaters, snowboarders, moto and bike riders, and, of course, skiers. Its emphasis is on what’s happened the last 25 years. Action Sports Hall of Fame has the public nominate and then vote for athletes. On the first few pages alone, skiers can vote for Andrew McLean, Anselme Baud, Arne Backstrom, Bill Briggs, Bode Miller, Brad Holmes, and Candide Thovex—quite the age, ski discipline, and nationality range.

If the new Hall continues on its path toward legitimacy, it will require a physical space. Its founder Matt Savage has been in talks with San Diego’s Hall of Champions located in the storied Balboa Park. Plans call for interactive exhibits, like a device that would allow skiers to feel the thrill of tossing a cork 720. —John Stifter (Editor, Powder Magazine)

Heroes of all stripes

A response from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall Of Fame

Contrary to Mr. Stifter’s comments, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame (USSHoF) does recognize a broad spectrum of ski sports, including snowboarding. Hisvstatement that USSHoF has elected only two non-U.S. Ski Team members in the past 25 years is false. All kinds of inventors, resort pioneers, ski mountaineers and others have been elected who were never members of the Ski Team.

The USSHoF is located in Ishpeming, Michigan, the center of skiing in the late 19th century when ski jumping was king. It was here that the National Ski Association of America was founded in 1905. It is organized skiing’s birthplace, a fact noted in the print program he received at the induction in Seattle. Analogically, you might want to ask yourself why football’s hall of fame is in Canton, Ohio, and baseball’s hall is in the upstate New York backwater of Cooperstown. The reasons are historical, as they are with skiing.

Regarding Stifter’s criticism of the high percentage of deceased individuals on the Honor Roll, the Ski Hall of Fame was established in 1956 and has been nationally recognizing the sport’s heroes for more than 50 years. It should hardly be surprising that many honorees have passed on. The same could be said for anysports hall of fame that has operated for such a length of time. And like most sports halls of fame, USSHoF typically waits until a skier or snowboarder has completed most of his or her career before being honored.

One of those deceased skiers is one we mutually admire, the late Shane McConkey. Glen Plake was concerned when he learned of his election to the Ski Hall of Fame, initially believing that we thought his career was over. He changed his mind after being told that the rock band Metallica had recentlybeen elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Plake is one of the most enthusiastic inductees of the Class of 2010.

Regarding the Action Sports Hall of Fame, do you honestly think our top athletes will get more and better recognition in a museum that celebrates high-profile athletes, like the stars of NASCAR? In doing his research, Stifter should have taken the time to examine the rules for nominating and selecting people to the Hall of Fame, posted at our Website, www.skihall.com. There he would see that the door is wide open for the skiers whom he reveres. USSHoF has recognized extreme skiers Bill Briggs and Doug Coombs. Dahren Rahlves is in the Hall of Fame, contrary to what Stifter writes. The nomination process is open to anyone, and I would encourage Stifter and his readers to take the time to participate, instead of sitting back and complaining about who hnot been recognized. —Tom West (President, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame)

The National Hall of Fame is not tied to a building

BY JOHN FRY

Mr. Stifter is either conflating or confusing two matters: a hall of fame and the qualities defined for admission to it; and the operation of a museum with challenges of building cost, physical location and attracting visitors. In this conflation or confusion, Stifter is not alone. Many people see the Hall of Fame as inseparable from the building in Ishpeming on Michigan’s northern peninsula, where the pictures and biographies of 382 Hall of Famers are displayed. Their choice and election, however, is separable.

The main process of choosing and electing new Hall of Famers happens independently. The process would exist even if there were no national ski museum. Each year, new honored members are on display at a fundraising dinner attended by more than 400 people—next year at Vail, this year in Seattle, the previous year at Sun Valley.

Meanwhile, I do not know Stifter, but he seems, by his own description, a shy sort—the kind of guy who prefers to stay in a dark corner at a boisterous cocktail party. Too bad for him. In Seattle he could have talked with Olympic gold medalist Phil Mahre; or met one of America’s greatest jumpers, Gus Raaum; or questioned freestyle pioneers Doug Pfeiffer and John Clendenin, making him a better-informed editor of his magazine.

There’s still a lot that could improve the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. When I was inducted in 1995, I annoyed the ski establishment by speaking and writing about history-makers who’d been ignored in the Ski Hall’s selection process. I cited, for example, plastic boot inventor Bob Lange and adventure skier Ned Gillette, neither of whom had yet been honored. But as an editor I wasn’t on the same track as Stifter, who seems to want a hall of fame of instant celebrity, primarily honoring people who recently jumped off cliffs and performed stunning feats while riding avalanches in the backcountry. Stifter is correct in noting that USSHoF has done little to honorsnowboarders. The sport was barely 25 years old at the time, and personally, I didn’t favor in 2007 the Ski Hall’s change of name to include snowboarding. The sport famously has its own culture, starting with its original, vehement opposition to coming under the governance of the International Ski Federation (FIS). That the Burton Carpenters, husband and wife, were the sport’s first inductees suggested to me an idea originating with and imposed by the honorees, not one inspired by the Ski Hall.

In Stifter’s hall of fame, 70 percent of its members—like Andrea Mead Lawrence and Howard Head—would be de-listed because they’re

dead. As for selection, by his process, if Stifter were running the Baseball Hall of Fame, active stars like Alex Rodriguez or Justin Verlander would already be in it. So would Barry Bonds, and so would Pete Rose, now barred from baseball, who would have been elected when he was an active player, and the disgrace of his wagering had not yet unfolded. Not for nothing, do I continually press for the Ski Hall of Fame, like football, basketball and hockey, not to elect people whose active careers are still in process.

As for physical ski halls of fame and museums, they are starved for money and attendance. The Canadian Ski Museum is shut down. The Beekley International Collection of Art and Literature is currently warehoused. When Powder Magazine founding editor Jake Moe recently visited the Norwegian Ski Museum at Morgedal, he was one of only 12 visitors in a week. Stifter’s putative hall-of-famers would  be celebrated in a part of southern California where snow doesn’t exist. —John Fry 

 
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in 2011 the Australian post office issued three skiing and snowboarding stamps honoring the 150th anniversary of skiing in the Snowy Mountains.

The 1859 Australian gold rush drew thousands of miners and would-be miners to New South Wales. They came from all over the world, including a number of Norwegians, some fresh from the goldfields ofCalifornia, where they had some experience with early longboard racing. It’s estimated that from April to September of 1860, some 3,000 people wintered atAustralia’s Kiandra mining camp.

They didn’t hunker down in their canvas tents . They made skis. Newspaper reports published during the winter of 1861 describe young folks climbing the local hill and descending at the speed of railroad trains. By 1896 there was documentary evidence of a Kiandra Snow Shoe Club having been in existence since at least the early 1880s, and photos show single-stick downhillers blasting into town.

Kiandra is now a ghost town, but the club, now named the Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club, is still active in Perisher Valley. Local lore says it was organized in mid-1861 (during the southern-hemisphere winter, of course). While no one can prove that, the post office has accepted the year as the founding date for Australian skiing. It’s a legitimate historical question, because 1861 would predate the races organized by a club in Trysil, Norway, in January 1862. The first ski clubs for which we have newspaper accounts, in Onion Valley and LaPorte, Calif., were reported in January, 1861.

The Skiing Australia stamps, including a first day cover, were designed by John White, of the Australia Post Design Studio. They are available online at www.auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last. —Seth Masia

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