Compelling JFK exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair
If you are headed to the State Fair this year, don’t miss the “JFK Remembered” exhibit.
It’s a priceless collection of President John F. Kennedy memorabilia from the private collection of Nick Ciacelli.
The display is near Underwood Street and Dan Patch Avenue and across from the butterfly tent.
I was in Dallas earlier this year and visited The Sixth Floor Museum, a tribute to JFK in the book depository building, the same building from where Oswald was said to have shot President John Kennedy.
But the Minnesota State Fair display, to me, was far more compelling and interactive.
Kids were sitting cross-legged on the floor with their attention rivited on a large, overhead TV chronicling Kennedy’s rise to political greatness and his final demise. The kids looked to to be about seven or eight years old. Both they and their parents were captivated.
The exhibit includes a replica of the presidential limousine that carried Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, through Dallas on that fateful day in 1963. It also includes replicas of the pink suit (a surprisingly nubby fabric) and pill-box hat Jackie wore that day and JFK’s suit.
The items have been used in the Oliver Stone “JFK” movie, Sony Pictures “Ruby,”” and NBC’s “A Woman Named Jackie.”
There are official president and vice-president seals, campaign buttons, Kennedy coins and autographed pictures of political leaders, to name a few of the many artifacts.
Other items are pictures of Kennedy when he was a child with his family. See JFK’s jewelry box and a white sweater with JFK’s initial’s that Jackie gave him a short time before he died.Watch videos of Kennedy at college, in Europe as a young student, his PT boat adventures and during his presidential campaign. Much of the footage I have never seen before. There’s even a dagger that the Chancellor of Germany gave him during his “Ich Bein Ein Berliner” speech in June 1963.
“JFK Remembered” is a rare chance to take an intimate look into history. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to linger just a bit longer.
Ciacelli (I believe he’s from Florida) owns the display. He began collecting the memorabilia as a teen from the day Kennedy was shot Nov. 22, 1963.
He has amassed a tremendous exhibit.
I am thankful there are people with a passion for history around, people like Ciacelli.
This is one man preserving history, bringing it to life at no charge, with the exception of the gate cost for the ticket into the fair.
How can you go wrong?
Thank you for writing that wonderful letter but more importantly your keen observation of the memory of John Kennedy and seeing the young kids fixed to a time well before they were born was touching more to me as the collection was to you!
Thank you.
Nick Ciacelli
Mr. Ciacelli, I grew up in MA and served on Sen Kennedy’s campaign (Ted Kennedy) I was a volunteer and got to me Jackie Kennedy, Caroline and JFK JR when he lost and held a thank you party back in 1980 when he was seeking the nomination. JFK was always a hero of mine. The car always fascinated me and for years I had the plate GG300 and still have the WHYJFK plate here. Where can I learn more about the car and you should dedicate a site to the replica car. That car was Camelot. I was told the replica car belonged to Jay Leno as he website denotes is that true and is yours a different replica car? Great Job and do let me know if there is more info on the great job you did on the car. Respectuflly Sean Douglass McCarthy
Thanks for the letter. NOi just posted it on his site. I hope to have a big exhibit in las vegas