The Frazier History Museum Welcomes Diana: A Celebration

• In addition to the gallery of childhood possessions, the exhibit also features a gallery of Diana's famous designer dresses. (Photo Courtesy of Frazier History Museum)
• A highlight of the exhibit, Diana's tiara is on display. (Photo Courtesy of Frazier History Museum)
• Of course, the fan favorite wedding dress is in the center of the exhibit. (Photo Courtesy of Frazier History Museum)

The Frazier History Museum, located in downtown Louisville, is home to the only British Royal Armoury collection outside of its country in the entire world, and because of this, the renowned museum was able to secure the award-winning exhibition detailing the life of Diana, Princess of Wales entitled, Diana: A Celebration from September 15, 2012 until January 13, 2013.
The exhibit, created by Diana’s family shortly after her death, displays over 150 objects personal to the iconic Princess. “[The Exhibit] includes multiple objects from her life; the famous wedding dress with the 25 foot veil, 28 of her designer outfits, a lot of which people recognize because they have been photographed so many times, her tiaras, her family jewels, her personal mementos, things from her childhood like school uniforms and toys, personal photographs that she had in her personal albums all kinds of personal things,” said Krista Snider, Director of PR & Marketing at the museum. “There is also a tribute gallery which is about her life being ended way too soon, and the center piece of that gallery is a video that’s footage of her funeral. Her brother’s eulogy that he read at her funeral is on the wall, and there is actually a copy of it with marks that he added in before he read it, and there are copies of Elton john’s manuscript when he rewrote the candle in the wind song after her death.”
As imagined, the display depicts specifics of the late Princess’s life, but also holds special connections to her family. “We had a staff member view it when it was on display in one of its pervious venues, and she came back and said…this exhibition is amazing. So we need to see if we can book it,” Snider said. “So we started looking into it and investigating it and as you can imagine as her family’s estate is so involved in not only the production of the exhibition, but they are also involved in approving what venues it goes to, they approve all the advertising and all the messaging that takes place everywhere it goes; they are just very involved.”
Luckily, the museum’s reputation and relationship with the Royal Armouries secured the potential for the exhibit to come to Louisville, amid its demand in larger cities. However, the exhibit spends every summer in Althorp, England, where Diana’s family resides. “It actually came to us directly from England,” Snider said.
In addition to the spectacular personal objects, the exhibit is also a celebration and remembrance of her life. With extensive charitable works and donations, Diana broke the barrier between international status and philanthropy when she was the first ‘celebrity’ to be photographed touching an HIV positive person in Africa.
The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 13, 2013. Tickets range from $21.50 for adults, $19.50 for seniors and $10 for children with children under three years of age being free. Learn more about Diana: A Celebration and other exhibits at the Frazier History Museum online at www.fraziermuseum.org.