This past weekend (June 7 & 8), I participated in the Amusement Preservation Museum’s 2025 Open House as a guest exhibitor. This was, by far, my largest display to date, and to paraphrase one visitor, the most impressive amusement park memorabilia display he had ever seen! Despite the weather being (unfortunately, yet also appropriately) as inconsistent as a roller coaster’s elevation, an estimated 200 guests came to see the museum’s extensive collection of ride cars and other artifacts, as well as my display!
My exhibit this weekend was roughly twice as large as my annual displays at the “Remembering the Sights & Sounds of Euclid Beach Park” event in September. It was also my first event since reaching the milestone of having 20 different defunct amusement parks represented in my collection. I had a lot of great conversations about various amusement parks and the history behind artifacts in my display, and both Troy Parsh (the museum’s founder) and I received a lot of fantastic positive feedback on our displays and our preservation work!
Additionally, there were journalists in attendance from at least two publications, one of whom had already posted their article by the middle of the weekend: Article & photos from The Chronicle.
(Note: This post will be updated with any additional articles that are published about the event. If you know of any that are not yet listed here, please let me know!)
Thank you very much to everyone who came out for the event, and of course, to the Amusement Preservation Museum for all of their hard work making this event a reality! I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Original photographic slide of Jackie & John F. Kennedy’s campaign appearance at Euclid Beach Park, displayed with an original folding chair as seen in photos from the event
Plain Dealer newspaper article from September 1, 1969, about the closing of Euclid Beach Park
Euclid Beach Park souvenirs and artifacts
Antique glass souvenirs from Euclid Beach Park. These are from the park’s earliest years (late 1890s and early 1900s), before the Humphrey family owned and managed the park.
Operator’s phone from the Thriller roller coaster at Euclid Beach Park
Miniature lamp post from the Sleepy Hollow Village at Euclid Beach Park
Ticket dispenser from a Euclid Beach Park ticket booth counter
My Euclid Beach Park Rocket Ship model, displayed with a newly completed backdrop with lights
Display frame made of wood from the Euclid Beach Park Roller Rink floor, and containing photos and ephemera from the park
Artifacts and memorabilia, most with connections to the Euclid Beach Park dance pavilion, displayed with an original bandstand podium from the 1940s & 1950s. My miniature model of the Euclid Beach Park entrance arch is also displayed here.
A Euclid Beach Park bandstand podium from the 1940s & 1950s, displayed with smaller, related items from my collection
Items from other memorable Cleveland-area places
Souvenirs and artifacts from a variety of defunct amusement parks from around Northeast Ohio (and parks with historical connections to the region)
Souvenirs and artifacts from a variety of defunct amusement parks from around Northeast Ohio (and parks with historical connections to the region)
Souvenirs and artifacts from a variety of defunct amusement parks from around Northeast Ohio (and parks with historical connections to the region)
One of the Goodyear blimps was briefly visible nearby on Saturday following the recent 100th anniversary celebration for the blimps
Videos:
Video walkthrough of my display at the Amusement Preservation Museum’s 2025 Open House
My Euclid Beach Park Rocket Ship model, displayed with a newly completed backdrop with lights
