Muhammad Ali Center
 The Ali Center, alongside I-64 on Louisville's riverfront | |
| Established | November 19, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location |
144 N. Sixth Street Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°15′29.4″N 85°45′36.2″W / 38.258167°N 85.760056°WCoordinates: 38°15′29.4″N 85°45′36.2″W / 38.258167°N 85.760056°W |
| Type | Biographical, boxing |
| Website |
www |
The Muhammad Ali Center is a non-profit museum and cultural center in Louisville, Kentucky. Dedicated to boxer Muhammad Ali, a native of Louisville, it is located in the city's West Main District.
The six-story, 96,750 sq ft (8,988 m2). museum opened on November 19, 2005 at a cost of $80 million.[1] It also includes a 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) two-level amphitheater and a plaza.
On April 4, 2013, a new pedestrian bridge opened, helping residents and visitors connect from the Muhammad Ali Center's plaza to the Belvedere, the Waterfront, and other downtown attractions. The 170-foot-long walkway is nine feet wide, with exterior metal panels that complement the Ali Center plaza's design.[2]
Description
The cultural center features exhibitions regarding Ali's core values of respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, charity, and spirituality.[3][4] Throughout his life, Muhammad Ali strived to be guided by these core principles in his quest to inspire people around the world, dedicating himself to helping others, being the best athlete he could be and by standing up for what he believed in.[1]
An orientation theater helps present Ali's life. A mock boxing ring is recreated based on his Deer Lake Training Camp. A two-level pavilion, housed within a large elliptical room, features Ali's boxing memorabilia and history. A large projector displays the film The Greatest onto a full-sized boxing ring. There are also booths where visitors can view clips of Ali's greatest fights on video-on-demand terminals, which also feature pre- and post-fight interviews.
Another exhibit offers visitors the chance to explore sense of self, others and purpose through an interactive terminal program. The final exhibits include "Hope and Dream" and "Global Voices". "Hope and Dream" is composed of over 5,000 tiles with drawings and paintings from children from 141 countries; they tell what they want to be when they grow up.[3][4] "Global Voices" is a similar project, in which the Ali Center asked questions to both children and adults from around the world. The answers were submitted through a variety of mediums, such as drawings and poems, and are now displayed in the exhibit.
Two art galleries, the LeRoy Neiman Gallery and the Howard L. Bingham Gallery, feature rotating exhibits that are located on the third floor.
Gallery
Exhibit space
Exhibit space
Exhibit space
Ali's Presidential Medal of Freedom on display
See also
- List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
- List of museums focused on African Americans
- List of museums in the Louisville metropolitan area
References
- 1 2 "Fact sheet." Muhammad Ali Center, Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville
- ↑ "Mayor Opens Ali Pedestrian BridgeI". April 4, 2013.
- 1 2 "Visitor Guide and Map." Muhammad Ali Center [Brochure], Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville.
- 1 2 "Find greatness within." Muhammad Ali Center [Brochure], Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville.
