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The 5 Best Ski Museums in the United States

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:02 PM ET

Where did skiing come from? For one person, answering that question could take years and might involve a PhD or two in the process.

Thankfully, dedicated historians have already done much of the legwork, storing their collective knowledge in carefully curated shrines to the mountains, skiing, and ski resorts. Many of these museums have free admission—those that don’t typically charge far less than the price of a lift ticket.

So, instead of asking ChatGPT questions about our favorite sport’s historical roots, why not go see those roots in real life? These are five ski museums across the U.S. worth seeing.

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1. Alf Engen Ski Museum

Admission: Free (some add-on experiences cost extra)

Named for Utah ski culture trailblazer Alf Engen, the Alf Engen Ski Museum is, fittingly, located in the Utah Olympic Park near Park City. Just outside the museum’s doors are snowsports training facilities, all designed to prepare athletes for greatness. Inside, visitors will find a trove of artifacts that illuminate skiing’s history.

One portion of the museum tells the story of pioneers like Engen, who fashioned the Intermountain West into a now world-renowned ski destination. Another area focuses on the 2002 Winter Games—which were held in Salt Lake City, Utah—and features Olympic memorabilia and artifacts.

Throughout the Alf Engen Ski Museum are fun diversions, too, like the ski jumping simulator. Admission to the museum is free, although some add-on experiences cost extra. If it’s the summer, you can watch the Flying Aces flip and twist through the air at the nearby water ramps after you tour the museum.

2. Colorado Snowsports Museum

Admission: Free (a donation of $10 is appreciated)

The Colorado Snowsports Museum calls Vail home and, through several exhibits, captures the historical spirit of skiing. One celebrates the 10th Mountain Division, an iconic infantry unit whose members, after fighting in Europe during WWII, came home and helped kickstart the United States’ burgeoning ski resort industry. That resort industry—at least the Colorado arm of it—is detailed in its own exhibit, which provides information about the state’s ski areas. Part of the exhibit chronicles Colorado’s mysterious “lost resorts.”

Historical curiosities help with the visuals. One object that's on loan to the museum is the snowboard James Bond used in the 1984 movie A View to a Kill. Another exhibit is “100 Years of Ski Fashion and Function,” which, as you might expect, shows off some fun ski outfits dating back to the 1910s before the dawn of Gore-Tex.

3. Lake Placid Olympic Museum

Admission: $15 for adults; $12 for military, youth, students, and seniors; free for kids 6 and under

The Winter Olympics are a big deal. It should come as no surprise, then, that these international sporting events draw attention from history buffs. At Lake Placid, New York, the region’s Olympic legacy is documented at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum.

The museum spans several exhibits. One chronicles Lake Placid’s Olympic origins; the town hosted the third-ever Winter Games in 1932. A follow-up documents the return of the Olympics to Lake Placid in 1980. The museum features interactive exhibits that cover speedskating, ski jumping, and bobsledding. Fans of vintage items will be pleased to discover an expansive memorabilia collection, including torches, pins, uniforms, and other equipment.

4. New England Ski Museum

Admission: Free (donations accepted)

Nestled at the base of Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway is the Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, branch of the New England Ski Museum. The branch has been operating since 1982, providing insights into the history of skiing just outside a bustling ski resort. Despite the New England name, the museum doesn't only focus on the United States, with one exhibition including authentic replicas of prehistoric skis.

The near present—and the Northeast—are, of course, on full display, too. Across one wall hangs a 12-foot-wide photo mural of Tuckerman Ravine, shot during the snowiest winter on record in 1969. One exhibit explores the roots of the neighboring Cannon Mountain, including the construction of its historic tram, which, in 1938, became North America’s first. A collection of memorabilia honors alpine racing legend Bode Miller includes his K2 skis and Olympic medals.

The New England Ski Museum’s Northeast foothold goes beyond Franconia Notch. Another newer museum, the Eastern Slope Branch, has operated in North Conway since 2018.

5. Park City Museum

Admission: $15 for adults; $11 for students, military, and seniors; free for children 17 and under

The Park City Museum is, first and foremost, a museum about a town. But when that town is Park City—a famed ski destination with three resorts—it’s impossible to discuss history without also talking about snowsports. The influence of skiing is clear right from the start. In front of the Park City Museum is a statue of Bud Wright, one of the town’s first skiers. He used his planks to service and repair telephone lines but also introduced others to the sport.

The Park City Museum delves into historical life, the great fire of 1898, the town’s territorial jail (which can be found beneath the historic City Hall), and numerous other subjects across its exhibits. Among them is the Skier Subway Theater, which chronicles Park City’s transition from being a mining town to being a ski town. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the history of one of skiing’s most famed hotspots, the Park City Museum is a great place to start.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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