50th Anniversary Exhibit

For the 50th anniversary, the park wanted to create an exhibit showcasing Worlds of Fun's extensive history. After receiving positive feedback on the Phantom Theater Exhibit the year before, I was excited to work on this type of project again.

The chosen space was an unused theater entry, which presented some tricky challenges. We had to update the building plans, improve the lighting, and work with an awkward layout. In addition to the spatial challenges, we had to curate and collect all the artifacts and props to go into the space and write extensive history to communicate the story.

We prioritized making the space more inviting and drawing guests in. We started by creating a 3D model in SketchUp and dividing the room into nine sections, telling the story in a linear fashion. The sections guided guests around the edge of the room, pulling them into the narrow back section and creating a natural flow throughout.

We also knew we needed something eye-catching towards the back of the room—something guests couldn't resist getting a closer look at. We set our sights on the Orient Express, an iconic rollercoaster that closed in 2003. We partnered with The National Rollercoaster Museum in Arlington, TX, and got an original train car displayed in the museum.

We worked closely with two unofficial park historians, Jeff Mast and Jennifer Lovesee-Mast of WorldsofFun.org, who have an extensive personal archive of park paraphernalia and were kind enough to loan us many items. Together with them and several other Worlds of Fun super fans, we curated quite a selection of items for fans to enjoy and reminisce about. Using old footage, we created a short video showcasing vintage TV advertisements of the park and point-of-view videos for some of their most well-known rides. We also partnered with the Marketing and Entertainment teams to create a fifteen-minute documentary on the history of Worlds of Fun entertainment, which is available in full on YouTube.

The other significant task of this project was to tell the park's history, and we were lucky to work with Mike Costello for that portion. He wrote and designed all the panels in the museum, with art direction from Paul Bonifield and I.

We also partnered with the on-site marketing team to promote the museum through social media. We created an online competition where guests submitted their photos and memories of the park. Using those photos and stories, we created a display. Guests could come and find their pictures and see a visual expression of the community fostered by going to the park.

As the project came together, I was able to be on-site and field art directed at the opening. It was a great learning experience to direct many different teams and disciplines, such as carpentry, lighting, and costuming. I also got to style and prop the display cases. I got to troubleshoot problems as they arose and even got my hands a bit dirty with installation.

Overall, the museum was a huge success and returned for an additional year beyond the original plans. I'm honored to have contributed to this little piece of Worlds of Fun's history. To see the exhibit fully, please watch the video below (Credit: Jeff Mast and Jennifer Lovesee-Mast). The exhibit is available to see in person at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, MO, through 2024.