I am happy to announce that the Muhammad Ali Center re-opened to the public on July 1st and we have begun welcoming back visitors. We are also prepared to begin receiving group tours and private events, following the capacity limits as outlined by our Governor’s office. After being closed for 3-1/2 months, it is thrilling to see visitors once again walking through our doors. So far, we have had visitors from all walks of life returning to learn more about the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali, The Greatest of All Time. Shortly before our temporary closure, the Muhammad Ali Center was honored to become one of the newest stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
It is a different world than it was just four months ago; we have learned new ways of working and communicating with one another. Some of us have become teachers to our children. Others of us have discovered new hobbies, such as how to garden or bake. Some have adopted a new pet. And all of us have, no doubt, adopted new words in our everyday vocabularies: PPE, social distancing, coronavirus, ZOOM to name a few.
Six weeks ago the world changed again with the haunting words, "I can’t breathe”. These words spoken by George Floyd, as he was being murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, sparked a great awakening around the world regarding systemic racism. We had heard these words before, but this time the world listened; protesters, all over the world, took to the streets and demanded equity for black and brown people who lived in systems created out of racist policies. This time, it was not just black and brown people protesting, it was people of all hues demanding justice and equity for all.
Muhammad Ali fought for this, as well, back in the 1960s. He, in fact, was a peaceful protester and believed in letting one’s voice be heard. While Muhammad’s voice was amplified on another level because he was the Heavyweight Champion of the World, it was also by design that he used his fame as a platform to speak out against racism. Muhammad was just in his mid-twenties when he said: “Boxing was just to introduce me to the world. Now my life is startin’. Fighting injustice, fighting racism, fighting poverty, using this face that the world knows and fame, and goin’ out and representing truth and helping certain causes.”
The Ali Center visitor experience covers Muhammad’s years during the civil rights era, as well as his Louisville roots; his amateur and professional boxing careers; humanitarian accomplishments; dedication to training; spiritual transformation; and even his talents as an artist. Our exhibits are rich in history, yet so timely to today’s social challenges. They are designed to inspire you.
So what can you expect when you visit? What kind of safety precautions do we have in place? First, please note that our number one priority is—and always has been—the health and safety of our staff, patrons, and other visitors. Our staff has worked tirelessly throughout these past few months to plan and implement COVID19 safety procedures so we can get back to doing what we love the most: inspiring others to achieve their own greatness.
To those who donated during these difficult times, we thank you. Your generosity did not go unnoticed and we appreciate your support now more than ever. We look forward to the days ahead as we work together to get through this unprecedented time in our history.
We encourage you to purchase your admission tickets online in advance, available HERE. Also, please visit our COVID Guidelines in advance of your visit.
