Commissioner Bettman said bringing the museum and "Willie" to Ferguson, a community recovering from racial unrest and protests, helps show young people life's possibilities through the prism of hockey.
"Willie is an incredible person whose overcome amazing obstacles to accomplish what he has ... He's given young people hope, given them dreams they probably never had before," he said. "And when you come to a place like Ferguson, which has had its difficulties and challenges, giving young people here an opportunity to look forward to other things in life, I hope, is a message that resonates."
The museum features an entire wall dedicated to achievements in black hockey history, from O'Ree's NHL debut to former Blues goalie Grant Fuhr becoming the first black person inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Fuhr's jersey along with those of black former Blues players Jamal Mayers and Ryan Reeves, who now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights, are on display in replica lockers inside the museum during its visit to St. Louis for the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.
The mobile museum, a partnership between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, is on a tour of 14 NHL cities to help commemorate Black History Month.
"I think it's a great educational piece that the NHL is able to use," Mayers said. "You can only become what you see, so I think it's important that kids of color see players that came before them.
"It's important for the community to be embraced, and it's important for kids of color to feel a part of it," said Mayers, who played for the Blues from 1996-97 to 2007-08. "I think the recent success of the Blues as well lends itself to everyone wanting to feel a part of it. I think it's incumbent on the Blues to take the opportunity and run with it."
Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., said the O'Ree documentary delivers a good message to young people and communities about persevering and excelling through hard times.
"I think his greatest accomplishment was the personal courage and total dignity that he maintained every day," Clay said. "That's why today's film is so important. Willie O'Ree is a true hero, not just because of what he achieved on the ice but because of the kind of man he is."