What a ride: Sandusky’s new Cedar Point Historical Museum chronicles park’s roller coaster past

SANDUSKY, Ohio – David Kaman started collecting Cedar Point memorabilia as a college student, when he worked summers at the park in the 1970s.

He worked the 11:30 p.m.-to-8:30 a.m. shift, changing light bulbs on rides in the middle of the night.

"It gave me a different perspective," said Kaman, 69. "The beauty of the park struck me."

Fifty years later, it still does.

Kaman recently retired from his law practice in Cleveland and moved back to his hometown of Sandusky.

His large collection of Cedar Point memorabilia moved with him – but only temporarily, until he found a place to display it.

Next month, it will become the centerpiece of a new museum, the Downtown Sandusky Cedar Point Historical Museum , located inside the city's Merry-Go-Round Museum .

"It's been my dream to do this," Kaman said.

Kaman's collection started with a series of Cedar Point postcards given to him by his father. Over the years, it's grown to thousands of items, including old photographs and brochures, model ships – even old ride parts.

When his three sons were kids, Kaman traveled with them across Ohio and surrounding states, searching for items. "This was all before eBay," he said.

And when his kids got older and moved out, he filled their rooms with Cedar Point stuff.

The oldest item: An 1893 ribbon commemorating the Aug. 13 visit by employees of the Huber Manufacturing Co. in Marion.

"When groups came to Cedar Point, everybody got a ribbon," Kaman said.

And his favorite item: A metal pail and shovel, an early Hotel Breakers souvenir, circa 1907, with this printed on the side: "The finest bathing beach in the world."

Cedar Point , founded in 1870, is not involved with the project, although it did grant permission for the museum to use the park's name.

In addition, many employees, past and present, have helped Kaman acquire items over the years. Among them is Candy Frankowski, the former director of park operations who donated items and helped Kaman set up the exhibit.

Among the artifacts on display: Shirts from Jungle Larry and Safari Jane; a model of the G.A. Boeckling ferry, named after the former park general manager, which transported passengers from downtown Sandusky to Cedar Point; and items from long-time Cedar Point woodcarver Paul Koerner.

There's also a T-shirt with the word "Banshee" crossed out. Next to it is the 1995 letter from Cedar Point General Manager Dan Miears explaining why park officials reversed an earlier decision to name a new coaster after an evil spirit.

"Any promotional material with Banshee name or logo should be destroyed immediately," reads the letter.

(Note: The new coaster eventually was dubbed Mantis, since renamed Rougarou. Meanwhile, Kings Island debuted a Banshee coaster in 2014.)

There's an early entrance sign from the Blue Streak roller coaster and fin pieces from Top Thrill Dragster's original cars that were removed before the ride debuted in 2003.

Kaman acquired many of the items at estate and garage sales over the years. Former colleagues also alerted him when items from the park were going to be removed or discarded.

Frankowski, for example, donated milk glass imprinted with the Cedar Point name, as well as an early HalloWeekends mask that she wore in 1997.

Kaman expects the collection will grow as it becomes better known. Eventually, they may need a bigger space.

But for now, the exhibit space - roughly 70 feet by 14 feet – is perfectly placed inside Sandusky's stunning former post office building.

After the post office closed in 1987, the Merry-Go-Round Museum opened here in 1990, with hundreds of carousel artifacts on display.

The centerpiece of the museum is a gorgeous 1939-era Allan Herschell carousel, which visitors can ride (but hang on – it runs faster than most amusement park merry-go-rounds).

Alas, there are no rides in the Cedar Point Historical Museum, although there is a child-size simulator that offers mild versions of Blue Streak and Gemini.

There's also a 6-foot-tall model of the Space Spiral, the 330-foot high tower that Cedar Point removed in 2012. And near it: A 1970s-era photo of Kaman changing the ride's light bulbs.

If you go: Downtown Sandusky Cedar Point Historical Museum

Where: The museum is inside Sandusky's Merry-Go-Round Museum, 301 Jackson St., about 60 miles west of Cleveland.

Admission: Entry is included with Merry-Go-Round Museum admission: $8 ($6, children 4-14; $7 seniors).

Hours: The museum will open Wednesday, Dec. 4, and will be open the hours of the Merry-Go-Round Museum, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed in January.