Former California Governor and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to his hometown in Austria to unveil a towering bronze statue of himself at a museum dedicated to his legacy.

Hundreds of fans turned out Friday to see Schwarzenegger, who visited Austria with his son Patrick.

The museum in the village of Thal opened in July and is housed in the house where Schwarzenegger grew up. It includes items that mark significant moments in the his life, such the first barbells he used as a young man to build up his muscles. One of the exhibits is a polished wood desk Schwarzenegger used as a governor.

Schwarzenegger said he turned his childhood home into a museum to send the message that everyone can succeed.

Schwarzenegger began his career as a bodybuilder and then became an actor. He achieved the most success in action movies such as Conan the Barbarian and the Terminator series.

A naturalized U.S. citizen, Schwarzenegger married Maria Shriver, a member of the well-known Kennedy family that has participated in U.S. politics for decades. He won the governorship of the west-coast state of California in 2003 and served until 2011.

In recent months Schwarzenegger's attempt to return to acting has been overshadowed by a high-profile divorce from Shriver.