The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics will open May 25.

The collection includes official Olympic items such as skis, racing bibs, official results, promotional literature and participation mementos. Exhibits will show rarely seen conceptual drawings prepared by Walt Disney for planning of the VIII Olympic Winter Games.

Walt Disney’s artistic centerpiece of the Olympic Park was the elevated stage of the Tribune of Honor. It was backed by an 80-foot tall Tower of Nations displaying the crests of the 30 participating nations and flanked by statues of athletes in the style of snow sculptures. Photo/Bill Briner

Selections from the photographic collection of official Olympic photographer Bill Briner will be a central feature. Dozens of never before exhibited banners, souvenirs and spectator memorabilia from the Batiste Family Collection will be on display. The collection includes items from the pre-Olympic days of Squaw Valley Ski Area.

Special displays will honor local ski industry pioneers Wayne Poulsen and Alexander Cushing.

The exhibits will eventually include tributes to current and past Tahoe-area Winter Olympians and prominent skiers.

Visitors will learn the history of skiing in the Sierra and the story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. Interpretive posters will present excerpts from two recent ski history books, “From Longboards to the Olympics” by Mark McLaughlin and “Snowball’s Chance – The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games” by David C. Antonucci.

The new exhibit is presented by Tahoe Museum LLC, a public benefit organization founded by Sacramento-area physician Stan Batiste and Antonucci. The Auburn Ski Club, Squaw Valley Museum Foundation and private Olympic memorabilia collections from Wendall Broomhall, Martin Hollay, and Dave Newton are contributing rare artifacts and photos to the displays.

Channel Properties, owner of the Boatworks Mall, is hosting the museum as a public benefit and at no cost to the exhibitors.

The museum will be open from 10am-6pm on the second floor of the Boatworks Mall, 760 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. A grand opening ceremony is planned for early summer 2013.

Admission is free, with donations accepted.