Just in time for America's biggest and arguably favorite football game of the year, the Brick Store Museum has unveiled an exhibit unlike any other in the past. From now until March 30, a portion of Don Crisman's fascinating private collection of Super Bowl memorabilia will be on display.

Just in time for America's biggest and arguably favorite football game of the year, the Brick Store Museum has unveiled an exhibit unlike any other in the past. From now until March 30, a portion of Don Crisman's fascinating private collection of Super Bowl memorabilia will be on display.



Crisman is one of only three other people known have been to all 47 Super Bowl game since the game's inception 47 years ago. And although some people may not consider anything less than 50 years old as being history, it is living history in the making.



"The museum focuses on the history of the area; so even though this is recent history, it illustrates the life of one of our citizens," said Cynthia Walker, Brick Store Museum associate director and exhibition curator.



Walker said the idea for the exhibit came to her while watching the big game last year.



"I was watching the Super Bowl with my family and I wished that the museum could somehow connect with dedicated fans like those that watch the Super Bowl every year," she said. She reached out to Crisman, and a year to the date of her original idea, the exhibition was unveiled.

Some of the highlights of the collection on display now are a styrofoam hat that Crisman purchased and wore at the very first Super Bowl in 1967, several signed official footballs by Patriots players — the Pats are Crisman's favorite team— a T-shirt from the Patriots' first appearance in Super Bowl 20 as well as several Super Bowl tickets. All of Crisman's Super Bowl tickets have been recently preserved, encapsulated and graded, as much of his collection has. In fact, his collection is so extensive that the majority of it is catalogued and archived in a separate location to ensure that it is safely preserved and will be around for many more years to come.



Of all of his pieces, which include framed posters, awards, photos with celebrities, trinkets from games, signed helmets, autographs, pins, banners, patches, programs, clothing and more, Crisman said he does have a favorite.



"I would rank my ticket stub collection as my favorite grouping from the collection, followed closely by the items related to my team (the New England Patriots)," Crisman said. " I guess without the tickets, this adventure or journey I have been on for 47 years would have never happened."



Crisman is also proud of his many photos from past Super Bowls where he has been able to have his picture taken with celebrities such as Al Roker, Meredith Vierre, Ann Curry, Larry the Cable Guy, and even Joe DiMaggio several years back.

Don Crisman, along with the other three members of the "Never Miss a Super Bowl Club," was featured in a 2010 VISA campaign, "NFL Fans for Life."



When asked about how it feels each year when he makes it to the Super Bowl, Crisman answered "I think it is in some way like attending your first baseball game at Fenway Park — 47 times in a row. The sights and sounds of the game are much different being there than it is on television."



Walker said that although the exhibit just recently opened, the response from the public thus far has been positive.



"Those that have been into the museum to see us setting up the exhibit have been very entertained by seeing the older pieces and re-living their own memories of the game," she said. "We are hoping it will be a way to bring families and people of all ages together to view some of the fun events of recent history."



Though Crisman's collection is indeed valuable and highly sought after, he said the ideas of sharing his collection holds the most value for him. Loaning a portion of his collection and memories to the museum is a win-win game plan.

If all goes as planned, there may be even more memorabilia to add to the collection. Crisman, who is approaching the age of 80, has a personal goal he hopes to reach in regards to his Super Bowl journey.



"I'd like to make it to 50 Super Bowls. And if God's willing, I will," he said.