Shawn Butler, Head Curator & Founder
Shawn has been an avid toy collector for many years. His passion of toy collecting has touch the lives of many, bringing back those cherished childhood memories, and making long lasting friendship with other toy collectors.
In his collecting he has amassed over 20,000 pieces of Star Wars toys, props, memorabilia, & lifesize statues.
In 2014, Shawn's private Star Wars collection was recognized by Fox 8 News and local media, featured during Ohio's Bike Week in Sandusky Ohio as an attraction for motorcycle enthusiasts to stop and see his amazing collection on display in the downtown area.
But Shawn's passion of toy collecting did not stop with Star Wars!
Over the course of many years, Shawn collected various toys that were popular throughout the decades, spanning from the early 1900s to present.
Today, Shawn's private collection is an astounding 30,000 pieces and continues to grow each day.
Education
Prior to his graduation in 1990 from Perkins High School and Ehove Vocational School, Shawn founded his own Disc Jockey Company, "Total Sound Entertainment", where he entertained & performed thousands of weddings, private, and public events.
In 1995, Shawn partnered with Streetplayers Emcee and signed a two year contract with everyone's favorite amusement park, "Cedar Point" in Sandusky, Ohio, to entertain the guests while they waited in long lines to ride the roller coasters.
In 2013, Shawn hung up his microphone after 24 years of performing, and partnered with local Educational Science Director, Richard Gallagher, of the Sandusky Children's Museum.
Together they founded Padawan's Playground, a Non-Profit science based, hands-on children's museum, with the vision of being endorsed by LucasFilm & Disney.
In 2014, Padawan's Playground was recognized as an educational entity, by The George Lucas Foundation.
In 2015, Shawn & Richard partnered with the Cafaro Company, owners of the Sandusky Mall. With the Cafaro's generosity and support, they provided adequate space, where Shawn and the staff of Padawan's Playground were able to set up educational camps, hosted amazing events, and curated some of Shawn's private toy collection.
Sadly in the later part of 2017, due to hardships and businesses closing within the Mall, Padawan's Playground was forced to close indefinitely.
In early 2018, Shawn changed his approach to toy collecting, deciding to create the first Traveling Toy Museum.
After some great exposure at local venues, he founded Yesteryear Funland Traveling Toy Museum LLC in the later part of 2018.
Shawn furthered his passion of toy collecting, by attending online courses through the Smithsonian, studying toy history, and how it has impacted pop culture through the decades.
With his years of being a Disc Jockey, and knowledge of toys, Shawn delivers an amazing curation to all spectators.
Shawn is also the the writer for the museum's social media page, sharing toy history, back stories, and the occasional trivia question.
In his collecting he has amassed over 20,000 pieces of Star Wars toys, props, memorabilia, & lifesize statues.
In 2014, Shawn's private Star Wars collection was recognized by Fox 8 News and local media, featured during Ohio's Bike Week in Sandusky Ohio as an attraction for motorcycle enthusiasts to stop and see his amazing collection on display in the downtown area.
But Shawn's passion of toy collecting did not stop with Star Wars!
Over the course of many years, Shawn collected various toys that were popular throughout the decades, spanning from the early 1900s to present.
Today, Shawn's private collection is an astounding 30,000 pieces and continues to grow each day.
Education
Prior to his graduation in 1990 from Perkins High School and Ehove Vocational School, Shawn founded his own Disc Jockey Company, "Total Sound Entertainment", where he entertained & performed thousands of weddings, private, and public events.
In 1995, Shawn partnered with Streetplayers Emcee and signed a two year contract with everyone's favorite amusement park, "Cedar Point" in Sandusky, Ohio, to entertain the guests while they waited in long lines to ride the roller coasters.
In 2013, Shawn hung up his microphone after 24 years of performing, and partnered with local Educational Science Director, Richard Gallagher, of the Sandusky Children's Museum.
Together they founded Padawan's Playground, a Non-Profit science based, hands-on children's museum, with the vision of being endorsed by LucasFilm & Disney.
In 2014, Padawan's Playground was recognized as an educational entity, by The George Lucas Foundation.
In 2015, Shawn & Richard partnered with the Cafaro Company, owners of the Sandusky Mall. With the Cafaro's generosity and support, they provided adequate space, where Shawn and the staff of Padawan's Playground were able to set up educational camps, hosted amazing events, and curated some of Shawn's private toy collection.
Sadly in the later part of 2017, due to hardships and businesses closing within the Mall, Padawan's Playground was forced to close indefinitely.
In early 2018, Shawn changed his approach to toy collecting, deciding to create the first Traveling Toy Museum.
After some great exposure at local venues, he founded Yesteryear Funland Traveling Toy Museum LLC in the later part of 2018.
Shawn furthered his passion of toy collecting, by attending online courses through the Smithsonian, studying toy history, and how it has impacted pop culture through the decades.
With his years of being a Disc Jockey, and knowledge of toys, Shawn delivers an amazing curation to all spectators.
Shawn is also the the writer for the museum's social media page, sharing toy history, back stories, and the occasional trivia question.
