Jesse Owens Museum

Unexpected side trip. We really wanted a place just to stop and a get a pop from the back of Pickles. But we thought we would give the place a try, figuring that anyone who had pissed off Hitler was worth taking a closer look. And boy oh boy was it worth it!

The documentary shown, narrated by Owens himself, recounted those August days in 1936 when Hitler's theory of white supremacy was proved false. The most jarring aspect was the opening ceremony. As the flame passed Hitler on the way to the cauldron, Handel's Messiah was being played. It was difficult even 90 years later to hear "King of kings and lord of lords" referencing an earthly dictator.Read more