OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Do you have your first pair of Mickey ears gathering dust in your closet? How about a decades-old Universal Studios map stuck in a scrapbook? What about a commemorative cup from a long-defunct Disney restaurant tucked away in a cabinet?
The Osceola County History Museum is interested in borrowing your vintage -- think pre-Y2K -- theme park collectables for an exhibit documenting how the parks have made the community into what it is today.
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“The good, the bad and the dirty,” curator Michelle Finnegan said, they’re looking for it all.
Small to medium history museums typically acquire over 80% of their pieces from donations by community members. If you have any vintage Walt Disney World, Sea World, or Universal Studios collectibles, please contact our curator, Michelle Finnegan.#GiveSomethingAwayDay #Tbt pic.twitter.com/ipMgrSKthU
— OsceolaHistory (@OsceolaHistory) July 15, 2021
Media and marketing coordinator Christina Karandreas said the items will be displayed in a special exhibit that will open on Sept. 1.
“We are really looking for things that are specific to Florida and the parks that represent here,” she said.
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That could be anything from old park tickets, memorabilia from rides that no longer exist or even paperwork from families who sold their land to help make the parks’ footprint possible.
The staff at Osceola History has been digging through their old family photos of vacations. I found one of @SeaWorld old waterski show the Hatfield's and McCoy's. If you have any photos or vintage memorabilia to share email michelle@osceolahistory.org #collectors #memorabilia pic.twitter.com/BzdoC7pWsb
— OsceolaHistory (@OsceolaHistory) July 16, 2021
“Things that only people who truly enjoy the parks would know, we would love that kind of stuff,” Karandreas said. “The family who sold that last plot of land to Bonnet Creek, if they have a story they’d like to share, we’d love to hear it.”
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Karandreas said the items that are contributed will be carefully cataloged and given back when the exhibit is over, unless you’d like them added to the permanent collection.
The deadline to contribute items for display is Aug. 15. For more information on how to loan an item, email michelle@osceolahistory.org
1971, Walt Disney World, opens as Central Florida's newest attraction. In 1982 @EpcotCentre is added to the attractions list. In1989 @DisneyMGM Studios joins the group. The expansion continues in 1998 with @DisneyAnimalK. Do you have any pictures or Souvenir's you'd like to Loan?
— OsceolaHistory (@OsceolaHistory) July 20, 2021
In 1973 @SeaWorld opened in sunny Central Florida. Nearly 25 years later in 2000 it added #discoverycove where you could get your picture taken with the dolphins. Do you have any #Seaworldorlandoshamushow #clydeandseamoreshow #seaworldwaterskiers memorabilia to share with us?
— OsceolaHistory (@OsceolaHistory) July 20, 2021
On June 7, 1990 @UniversalStubio opened to visitors. In 1993 @UniversalORL opened City Walk. later in 1999 @IOAdventure Islands of Adventure opened for visitors with #universalmoments and #JurassicPark. Have any memorabilia or park guides to loan us? michelle@osceolahistory.org
— OsceolaHistory (@OsceolaHistory) July 21, 2021
