The Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City realizes the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s mission to preserve and honor the extraordinary life of one of the most important Americans of the 20th century. The museum tells the stories of Robinson’s achievements, as well as those of the racism, violence, social obstacles, and personal struggles that he and his wife Rachel, who guided the vision of the museum, overcame while building his legacy.

The museum is a 20,000 square foot exhibition space, with a combination of interactive experiences, traditional exhibit design, historical artifacts, and memorabilia, where visitors can explore Robinson’s groundbreaking impact on business, society, politics, entertainment, and sports. In different ways, each of the spaces explore and celebrate his civil rights leadership, commitment and action for social justice, athletic milestones, and continuing impact.

Legacy of Impact

An interactive experience through a changing collection of inspirational audio and video testimonies to the continuing impact of Jackie Robinson—from cultural icons to everyday individuals of all different backgrounds and walks of life.

42 single-user tablet-sized adjustable touchscreens, with private audio via a small handheld speaker connected to each display, allow visitors to explore diverse stories curated from interviews, speeches, documentaries, public appearances, songs, letters, and more.

Crossing the Color Line

An intimate, immersive, and somber space to reflect on the racial challenges experienced by Jackie, Rachel, and their unsung public and private allies, as Jackie, in 1947, becomes the first African American to play Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier that had segregated the sport for more than 50 years.

Using uncensored archival photos and videos on two independent projection surfaces, narration, ambient lighting, and spatialized audio and effects, the angular space challenges visitors to witness vivid and often disturbing journeys through the agonizing challenges, sacrifices, and consequences during the era of pervasive racial injustice and Jim Crow laws.

Game Day

A multi-platform experience that transports visitors back to the major games and events of Jackie Robinson’s 1947–1956 Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

Visitors control the experience through touchscreens alongside the detailed replica of Ebbets Field. Choreographed storytelling components include newsreels, archival imagery, and statistics displayed on the faceted LED wall; radio broadcasts and audio effects; activations and re-enactments on the model itself; deeper-dive content and context on the touchscreens; and historical artifacts flanking the space.

The model features addressable illuminated areas to support specific narratives including bullpens, dugouts, press boxes, important areas in the stands, and a playing field brought to life with animated projection mapping.

Designed at Gensler DXD, New York

Digital Experience Design (DXD) Director: Weston Bingham
Digital Experience Designers: Weston Bingham, Priscilla Gomez, Lili Trenkova
Experience Strategy and Content Strategy: Amy Ridley Bansak, Weston Bingham
Brand and Exhibition Design Lead: Juliet Bommier
Hardware Technologist: Michael Carter

"Game Day" Model Design, Integration, and Fabrication: Ideum
Technology Design and Integration: Electrosonic

Architecture Partner: Gensler
Photography: Gensler
"Game Day" video: Ideum