Jim Thorpe and his twin brother, Charles, were born on May 28, 1888, in Oklahoma Territory. They were half Sac and Fox Indian, and grew up on the reservation.

While attending Carlisle Indian school in Pennsylvania, Jim Thorpe played for famous football coach, Pop Warner, and became an important athlete for his school. He also excelled at baseball and track.

In 1912, he competed in the Olympics in Sweden, winning gold medals in both the Pentathlon and Decathlon.

Unfortunately, Jim Thorpe once earned a small amount of money playing Sunday baseball for a semi-professional league. When this information was reported by a newspaper, the Amateur Athletic Union stripped him of his Olympic medals and honors. After years of petitioning by the Thorpe Family, this decision was reversed in 1983 and the International Olympic Committee officially returned the medals to Jim Thorpe's adult children.

Jim Thorpe is a true American hero, coupling the self reliance and committment of the American spirit with the drive needed to rise from poverty to national fame. Cable TV network, ESPN, proclaimed him the Athlete of the Century.

Jim Thorpe's remains are buried our town in a monument dedicated to his memory. Every year we celebrate his birthday with races run by our local track team, and with a birthday cake cut by his daughter at our town square.

For more information about the life of Jim Thorpe, contact the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center at (570) 325-9190