120 East Santa Fe Avenue, Marceline, Missouri 64658
Welcome to WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM - one MUST SEE collection of unique Disney family donations helping visitors better understand Walt Disney - the man! Before we head inside, I would like to share a few brief words about the museum’s history.
“IT ALL STARTED WITH A GIFT”
During her lifetime, Ruth Flora Disney Beecher had built quite a collection of personal mementos and artifacts “that showcased the achievements of her world-famous brothers.” Many people are familiar with the “Disney” brand. Some individuals may have heard rumors or myths about Walt Disney. It was Ruth’s intention that people better understand just who her brother was as an individual, through examination of these intimate letters, candid family photographs, and personal items. It was her desire that this collection (of more than 2000 artifacts) be displayed in Marceline - the one location on the planet that seemed to resonate the strongest with Walt, the Disney family, and close friends. These pieces became the foundation of The Walt Disney Family Museum - donated by Walt’s sister, Ruth before she passed away in 1995.
The concept of a Walt Disney tribute in Marceline isn’t exactly new. In fact, it was considered by The City of Marceline as far back as 1956. (Just take a look at the proposal below.) Immediately following Walt and Roy’s 1956 visit, Marceline’s City Council voted to pursue the possibility of a Walt Disney museum in their small town. Though he accepted many awards for his work, Walt wasn’t interested in being honored with a statue in Disneyland or a fine museum (like this one) during his lifetime, so it was more than four decades later (through the efforts of his family) that the Walt Disney Hometown Museum of Marceline was fully realized, founded in 2001!
Marceline City Council documentation of the Chamber of Commerce’s investigation of the “possibility of establishing a Walt Disney Museum in Marceline”, during July of 1956. This occured just a few days after Walt and Roy returned to Marceline for a big homecoming celebration in their honor, and the dedication of a new Public Park and Pool!
The museum was originally intended to be a three-day experience in commemoration of what would have been Walt Disney’s 100th birthday. Once the festivities ended, so would the museum. However, the exhibit’s story resonated so strongly with fans, that the museum director kept it’s doors open - for 17 years. In recent years, the museum has received such an influx of visitors, that it’s seasonal period of operation has been extended.
“DISNEY HISTORY NOW DEPARTING ALONG TRACK NO.1!”
As Walt Disney Family Museum is housed inside San Francisco’s historic brick presidio, WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM is appropriately housed inside Marceline’s historic 1913 brick Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Depot building. This is fitting, considering the impact that this station and the Santa Fe railroad had on Walt’s personal life as well as his work!
Walt Disney Hometown Museum is a 10,000 square-foot expose of the man that many know little about. The first hall offers a unique collection of artifacts related to Marceline’s railroad history, and the Disney family’s move to Marceline. Several halls showcase Disney family memorabilia donated by Walt Disney’s sister Ruth Flora Beecher, as well as artifacts related to Walt Disney’s life’s work (like early licensed Mickey Mouse products and Disney Parks props). Many of these artifacts are one-of-a-kind and you won’t find anything like them at either The Walt Disney Archives or The Walt Disney Family Museum. Walt made a number of purposeful visits and donations to Marceline, which are also well chronicled through related photographs, exhibits, and displays. Visitors will also note the impact this humble town had on Walt Disney’s development and life’s work. Finally, a segment of the museum deals with Walt’s passing, how residents honored him, his work, and the legacy he left the world.
THE WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM’S ORIGINAL & ONLY SIGNAGE when the museum opened in 2001.
We will explore these exhibits and artifacts (not in relation to how they appear in the museum, but) in order to develop a chronological timeline of the Disney family’s involvement with the town of Marceline. We will not share every artifact along our tour today (we MUST save a few surprises for your future visit). With that, I invite you to please step this way, as your personal preview of WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM (with your Disney History 101 Field Guide Beth) begins NOW!
“LIVING WITH THE LAND”
By the beginning of the twentieth century, Walt’s uncle Robert Disney was a well established businessman. “In Marceline he was known as Gold Bug Disney. Because he often spoke of the gold stock he owned.” He owned a successful ‘flour, feed, and poultry’ business, and was also a land speculator. Amongst his holdings was a parcel of land (a few hundred-acres), just outside the city line of Marceline, Missouri. When his older brother Elias shared the news that his family would be moving from Chicago in 1906, it was Robert who suggested the newly formed Santa Fe division point as a potential destination to set up house. (CLICK on the following photo and scroll through a gallery of artifacts pertaining to Robert Disney).
Elias and Flora heeded his advice and purchased their 40-acre farmstead only a few miles away from uncle Robert’s original property. Elias paid $3000, in instalments for the 40-acre farm, which was previously owned by a Civil War veteran named William Crane.
Life in the country was different from living in the city. The Disneys had no electricity, nor running water. Flora drew water from the kitchen pump for cooking and cleaning. The family had a smokehouse for curing meat. They used coal from the nearby mine for stove fuel. During the sorghum harvest, Walt’s father and brothers fed cane into a horse-powered press while Walt led the horse in a circle to mash it.
“WALT DISNEY’S BARNYARD OLYMPICS!”
Despite all the work involved in maintaining the farm, Walt viewed the farm through the prism of child’s wonder, always thinking of it as a paradise. Walt loved the barnyard animals. He bottle-fed a runt pig he named Skinny and recalled wild piggyback rides. Walt and his sister Ruth spent hours playing in the barn, and these experiences were no doubt later expressed through Mickey Mouse’s barnyard exploits and various animal interactions!
Under a circus tent that he fashioned out of burlap bags, Walt once tried to make disinterested cats perform tricks. He then charged neighborhood children 10 cents to watch the act, but they left unimpressed and Flora made her son refund the dimes. Walt was so fond of the little barn, that as an adult he built an exact replica of the Marceline barn for his Carolwood estate workshop.
“More things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since or are likely to happen in the future.”
Walt Disney loved and remembered the “spirit” of Marceline’s community. In Marceline people cared for one another. Walt recalled, “One farmer would help the other, they would go and help repair fences.” He especially enjoyed thrashing season, when the wagons would be hitched behind the big steam engine and rumble through the fields. The neighbors would gather to help, resting in the Disney’s front yard. Their wives would arrive too, all joining forces to cook for their men in a scene that Walt would remember fondly.
“The Taylors lived on one side of us and Doc Sherwood on the other.”
Even today there are five centennial farms located on the same road as the Disney farm. These pioneer families happily recall a fact that a young Walt Disney served as their water boy during the harvest.
“Other random remembrances…I include the fact that one of the prides of my life was my uncle, Mike Martin, who was an engineer on a train running from Marceline to Fort Madison Iowa. After all if you can’t be an engineer yourself the next best thing is to have a relative who is one.”
-Walt Disney, 1938
“BEST OF FRIENDS - THE TAYLORS & THE DISNEYS”
Walt once said, “For a child, encouragement from a grown up can be a thrilling experience. And can spell the difference between failure and success.” Sometimes Walt would tag after Erastus Taylor (a Civil War veteran), spending countless hours at the Taylor home while “Grandpa” Taylor would relive his battle exploits.
Jean Taylor recalled in a 1988 interview : “The Disneys were close friends of our family and frequently on Sunday afternoons Mr. and Mrs. Disney, Walt, and Ruth would visit our family. Mr. Disney bringing his violin which he played, not fiddled. Also in our neighborhood lived the Rinsimer family, two young members of that family were musicians as well and my sister played the piano. So on Sunday afternoons when the families got together at our home entertaining music was the result. Except for Ruth, Walt and I who were expected to sit quietly in our parlor and listen.”
Don Taylor recollects : “When Elias came here, I recall that he thought he could better promote the interest of farmers by associating with a union. Through Elias’ efforts, we became associated with a farm organization known as the American Society of Equity.
To organize the union Elias hosted an oyster supper at The Knights of Pythias Hall (located over Zurchers) and bought five gallons of raw oysters from Ed Hayden. Farmers (including the Taylors) came from all over with their families. That supper was over 60 years ago, but never have I tasted oyster soup quite as good as that served by Elias Disney in 1907.”
The following is an affidavit from Walt’s friend and neighbor Jean Taylor, documenting the years the Disney family lived, played, and worked in Marceline. Written in 1960, it gives us a unique first-hand account of the life and times of the Disney family in rural Missouri. Please CLICK on the following photo and scroll through the pages of Jean Taylor’s recollections of their next door neighbors!
“DOC SHERWOOD - WALT DISNEY’S FIRST FAN!”
“One of my fondest childhood memories is of Doc Sherwood. He used to encourage me in my drawing and gave me little presents for my efforts. One time I think he must have held a horse of his nearly all day so I could draw it. Needless to say, the drawing wasn’t so hot, but Doc made me think it was tops.”
The Disney’s immediate neighbor Doc Sherwood, was a retired country doctor who served as another mentor for young Walt Disney. Walt became a kind of adopted son to Doc and would occasionally accompany him into town for a “gabfest” at the local drug store. Doc often made these rounds of Marceline in a smart little buggy pulled by his prized stallion Rupert. What Walt would remember most about Doc Sherwood (and Rupert), he would recount the rest of his life -the time the doctor told him to fetch his crayons and sketch his horse.
In a 1938 interview published in the Marceline News, Walt recalled :
“I had two pals, one of them was Grandpa Taylor, who was a civil war veteran. And another one was a retired country doctor by the name of Doc Sherwood. Now Doc had this beautiful stallion, Rupert. He had me come over one time and bring my crayons and my Big Chief tablet and I was going to sketch a picture of Rupert for him. This day I had never seen Rupert so restless. Now I was trying to draw him and I’d get one stick down for a leg and then Rupert would turn around and then I’d have him for a profile. I’d move around to the front view and poor old Doc just couldn’t hold Rupert still. So it turned out to be quite a mess, but he liked it.”
Doc paid Walt 25 cents for this sketch for what Roy recalled Walt’s “Walt’s first commission…one of the highlights of his artistic career.” In fact, Roy would later state, “The drawing became the highlight of Walt’s life.”
“My brother Roy reminded me of another flyer I took in the line of art at that time. I painted one side of our house with pitch. The outcome must have been slightly frightening to say the least.”
-Walt Disney, The Marceline I Knew, 1938.
Walt used black pitch to paint on the side of the family farmhouse, and then talked his sister Ruth into adding “zigzags” by promising that it would come right off. “I wasn’t thanked by my family for my efforts”, recollected Walt Disney. This setting is recreated (loyally as possible) as a photo spot within The Walt Disney Family Museum.
“THE DISNEYS GO TO SCHOOL”
Walt was nearly seven years old when he enrolled for school. In the meantime, Flora did teach Walt how to read. The reason for Walt’s being held back, was that Elias wanted Walt to watch over his little sister Ruth when she was old enough to go too.
This is where Walt and Ruth attended class - in the same classroom, with the same teacher! Walt and Ruth attended class in the two-story red brick school house along with some 200 other grade school and high school students. According to Walt’s recollection, he was embarrassed because Ruth would follow him around.
Roy Disney entered the ninth grade at Park School. He excelled at mathematics and physical exertion on the farm prepared him to play on the school’s sports teams. His one foray into dramatics was as Bellefontaine in Longfellows’s “Evangeline”. Girls found him handsome and according to one museum exhibit “many Marceline girls claimed to have dated him.” For fun, Roy skated on the family farm’s pond, took sleigh rides and danced at church socials.
“MOVING ONWARD”
In 1909, the Disneys were first beset with what some call “a string of bad luck” when their well ran dry during a drought. Elias tried digging other wells but to no avail. Their apple crop had proliferated, but the market price dropped too low to profit. To make matters worse, Elias contacted a serious case of typhoid fever, which progressed into pneumonia. This left just 16-year-old Roy to work the farm. Elias and Flora agreed that it was in their family’s best interests to sell the farm and move. In the end (after four years of bone-wearying labor), the Disneys would scarcely get back what they originally paid for the farm.
The Disneys moved to Kansas City in 1911, where Walt attended Benton Grammar School. Walt and his sister Ruth both graduated from Benton Grammar School on June 8th, 1917. Two years later, Walt would apply for a position at Pesmen-Rubin, a commercial art studio which produced drawings for newspapers, magazines, and other business types. It was here that Walt met Ub Iwerks The two artists were made to share a desk, and were instantly drawn to each other. This job didn’t last long though, and the two artists were laid off after a few short months.
During the months that followed, the duo started an animation business of their own, and began a partnership of sorts that lasted for decades. As for Mr. Pesmen, he kept the light table for some thirty years before he recognized the historic value of it. Ultimately the desk came under new ownership, and it’s currently on loan to The Walt Disney Hometown Museum. It now sits in a faithful representation of a typical artist’s workspace of the Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Advertising building. Please CLICK the following photograph and get a closer look at Walt and Ubbe’s desk!
Many major moves of Elias Disney’s family were either influenced or aided by Robert Disney’s presence. When Elias and Flora moved to Kansas City in 1911, Robert and Margaret were already well established there. When Walt moved out to Hollywood to pursue film making, his uncle Robert had been retired for about a decade and living in the Southern California suburb of Holly-Mont. Back in Marceline, he had entrusted his nephew Herbert with his land holdings. During this time, Herbert had found the property laden with coal deposits. As the country had entered the first World War, Herbert offered these resources to the government free of charge to assist with the war effort. (CLICK the following image to scroll through a gallery pertaining to Herbert Disney.)
Elias’ brother Robert was a staunch supporter of the Disney boys. Both Walt and Roy were briefly permitted to stay in his Los Angeles home after their move to California (at the rate of five dollars a week). Walt made use of Robert Disney’s garage in order to finish shooting his Alice Comedies demo reel. Starting in November of 1923 Robert loaned Walt and Roy money on four occasions totaling $500 (which Walt payed back after his first short was picked up for distribution in 1924). Robert even appeared in at least one of Walt Disney’s Alice Comedies as an extra.
Mickey Mouse made his official debut in 1928, in a synchronized sound cartoon like the world had never seen. Finally all of Walt and Roy’s hard work would pay off. In 1932, Walt and Roy met another Missouri native - Kay Kamen, who ran a Kansas-based marketing company. In short, Kay Kamen secured a licensing agreement with the Disney brothers which resulted in more than $100 million in revenue during the next ten years. There is no doubt that some of that licensed Mickey Mouse merchandise made its way to the children of Marceline at the time of its release. Please CLICK the following gallery and explore a collection of loaned and donated Kay Kamen licensed Mickey Mouse merchandise.
During this time, Walt stayed in touch with his family by way of letters and some of them visited him in California.
The entire family was proud of Walt and Roy’s accomplishments. Still, their uncle Robert quietly confides in Elias that he wishes the boys (who were starting to get some national recognition) would have given him more recognition for his early financial support. (CLICK the following image to scroll through the pages of Robert Disney’s letter.)
After many years of hard work and sacrifice, Walt Disney became (as his uncle) - successful and well established Hollywood! Walt and Roy had produced the world’s first feature-length animated color film. By September of 1938, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had grossed more than $2 million worldwide, and a new 51-acre lot was recently purchased in Burbank (which a new studio would be built upon). There was a high demand for Mickey Mouse short subject films, and Fantasia was going into production. Things were moving along for Walt, but he still longed for the people and pace of his beloved small home town in Missouri. These feelings were expressed in letter to the people of Marceline, and published in their local paper during the Fall of 1938.
Reminiscing of home, Walt Disney contributed this letter to THE MARCELINE NEWS, September 2, 1938.
…
The family came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elias and Flora’s marriage, and Walt and Roy had a special gift for their parents! The duo presented their parents with a new home in North Hollywood. The house was conveniently close to the recently constructed Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, making it easy for Walt and Roy to check in on their parents and assist them.
However, less than a month after moving in, Flora began to notice trouble with the gas furnace and complained to Walt and Roy about it. Technicians from the studio were promptly sent to investigate it, but they could not find what was wrong. Flora even wrote Ruth, explaining the problem.
A few days later, a major problem surfaced with the gas furnace. Sadly, the fumes were so intense that Flora passed out. A short time later, she was pronounced dead from asphyxiation on November 26th, 1938. Flora was 70 years old. The devastating news reached home and the following headline was printed in one of Marceline’s local papers as the entire town mourned for their good friends and their great loss.
The December 2, 1938 Marceline News story bearing the sad headline about Walt’s mother Flora.
“UNCLE WALT & UNCLE ROY”
As time moved on, the family stayed connected by way of letters. Walt and Roy would regularly write to their sister Ruth and her son Teddy, informing them of his whereabouts. They would send gifts, like birthday presents for Teddy and a seasonal check for Ruth (which she would discreetly use to donate to some local Portland charity or need). Roy and Walt even arranged for Ruth and Teddy to visit him in California several times (though he missed them at least once due to business during the summer of 1953).
Walt would send letters before his travels, and Ruth and Teddy were kept informed of Walt’s production schedule (among other things) which carried him to exotic locations. Walt even let them in on his plans for a park during 1953. Please CLICK the following window to browse a collection of letters sent between the siblings.
When Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt’s nephew Teddy couldn’t join the festivities because his mother found being in large crowds rather difficult. Walt knew this, and sent a brand new television to Ruth and Teddy so they could watch the televised ceremonies from home!
“‘A SOURCE OF JOY AND INSPIRATION’ - MAIN STREET U.S.A.”
Marceline has truly become a source of joy and inspiration for all the world, especially when you consider the fact that most Disney Parks feature some form of a “Main Street” thoroughfare. Disneyland and its five cardinal lands (including the original Main Street U.S.A.) opened during July of 1955. Most of us know that Main Street U.S.A.’s “look” was inspired by locations around Fort Collins, Colorado. But without a doubt, Walt’s cherished boyhood home of Marceline also inspired some of Main Street U.S.A.’s fundamental elements - as its storefront “types”.
One “type” of Disneyland shop was inspired by Albert Zurcher’s Jewelry shop in Marceline, Missouri! (CLICK the following window and find out more!)
“WALT DISNEY’S ‘SMALL WORLD’”
The full-scale Main Street U.S.A. went on to inspire something huge on the second floor of the WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM! Disneyland is celebrated in miniature form, and we like to think that Walt would be especially fond of this exhibit. The model (a work in progress), does not represent any specific time period in Disneyland’s history as shops like the Sunkist Citrus House and the New Fantasyland facades exist together in this representation. It seems that the creator of this model included some of the best elements that Walt intended for Disneyland! (Feel free to CLICK the following picture, and scroll through a few close-ups of these detailed miniature buildings & attractions.)
“ANOTHER ‘SMALL TOWN BOY’ - ROBERT PENFIELD”
All manner of individuals submitted job applications to work for Disneyland. Robert Penfield (like Walt), spent his formative years growing up on a small farm in the heart of America. During the spring of 1955, Robert was offered a job in Anaheim. As his family was settling into their new home, Robert “ventured over to the freshly painted gates of the still unopened Disneyland. He was hired Wednesday, July 13th, 1955.”
What Main Street looked like, during the time that Robert Penfield applied for employment in 1955.
Robert Penfield received his first Disneyland paycheque during 1955, the year the park opened to the public. “Orientation was on a Wednesday July 13th, 1955, with a walk-thru of the park later that day. I saw Walt Disney standing in front of the Penny Arcade talking to art directors and contractors…We had orientation the same day I was hired. We had a walk-through of the park and I spotted Walt Disney standing in front of the Penny Arcade talking to contractors. He was the first ‘celebrity’ I had ever seen. Disneyland was the first and only job I ever had of a true employment where I drew a check.”
Fifteen years later, Mr. Van France (former manager of Disney University) founded Club 55 for longtime cast members. A Fifteenth Anniversary Castle Dinner was held at the Disneyland Hotel, and 130 original members attended. During the time this museum display was assembled, the once impressive number has shrunk to 13 original members. Of those original 13, “only a select handful …actually remained working at The Walt Disney Company throughout their entire career. Cheers to all the members, past, present, and future, who work so hard to bring Walt Disney’s dream to life at the most magical place on earth.”
After 42 years of service, the “small town boy” was appropriately rewarded with his own parade, and even a window on Main Street U.S.A.!
“WALT & ROY’S BIG HOMECOMING”
Residents of Linn and Chariton Counties were in for a surprise on the morning of Friday, June 29, 1956. The front-page headline of The Marceline News and The Bucklin Herald announced “Walt Disney Accepts July 4 Invitation”! Now, it wasn’t as if Walt hadn’t visited Marceline since Elias moved his family away.
For instance, during 1946 Walt was in communication with Marceline’s Chamber of Commerce representative over a planned visit centered around the dedication of a local lake. Ten years later in 1956, the purpose of Walt’s visit was the dedication of another very special gift to the people and children of Marceline.
Walt and Roy’s visit is announced (less than a week prior to their arrival) on June 29th, 1956 through THE MARCELINE NEWS!
During July of 1956, Walt (and his brother Roy) came home to a “hero’s welcome” in the town of Marceline. The brothers took a moment to pose in the front yard of the Santa Fe Railroad, and talked about Walt’s love affair with trains which began in this very location. As they walked on, the entire town’s residents lined the streets, the school band played, people waved flags, and banners heralded a large welcome to Walt and Roy Disney!
Upon their arrival in town on July 3rd, The Marceline Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Disneys to a reception at the Santa Fe Country Club. It was at this time that Walt was able to share a few of his childhood experiences with the people of Marceline.
The following morning (on the fourth of July), Walt, Lillian, and Roy enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with the Johnsons, then began the day’s activities. A few neighborhood boys stopped by the Johnson home in anticipation for the public pool opening, but they would have to wait until the evening festivities had commenced. Mayor Jack C. Wren had officially proclaimed the 4th as Walt Disney Day, and the mid-west premier of The Great Locomotive Chase took place in Marceline’s Uptown Theatre. Young and old were invited to screen the feature for free throughout the morning.
After the entire town viewed the film, Walt made a public appearance before heading to a luncheon at the home of Doctor Robert W. Smith. After their meal, Walt and Roy spent time with a few old classmates and friends before the ceremonies began.
At 7:30 p.m. on July 4th, 1956, Walt Disney (accompanied by his wife Lillian and brother Roy) participated in the dedication of Marceline’s new $78,500 Swimming Pool and Walt Disney Municipal Park (named in Walt’s honor). The Miss Marceline Pageant was held, and Walt and Roy were given the privilege to judge the competition. After the winner was announced, a group of youngsters took the first plunge into the new public pool. Please CLICK the following photo, and browse a gallery of photographs of Walt and Roy’s homecoming!
I almost forgot to mention, that during this trip Walt re-visited his old classroom and desk at Park School. This was long before the present school was constructed and dedicated in Marceline. Upon closer inspection of his former desk, Walt found the initials ‘WD’ carved into the desktop. Please CLICK the following photo, to take a closer look!
The Johnsons were hospitable hosts (donating the use of their air-conditioned home for the duration of the Disney’s stay in town). If you’ve ever visited Marceline during the humid month of July, you know how important a breath of fresh air is. Walt was extremely grateful for the Johnson’s generosity and wrote a letter of thanks upon returning home.
A good friendship was forged between the two families. The Disneys stayed with the Johnsons during future visits to Marceline, and Walt & Lillian made the Johnsons feel at home during their visit to Disneyland in California!
Inspiring the children of Marceline, and encouraging their successful futures was of importance to Walt. It was perhaps during this visit, that Walt began to plan his next gift to the children of Marceline.
“WALT DISNEY ELEMENTARY DEDICATION or ‘WALT DISNEY’S SALUTE TO MARCELINE’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM’”
Eventually, the old red brick Park School building would be razed, and a new school would be built and dedicated in Marceline by October 16th, 1960. After two days aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief, Walt and Lillian arrived in Marceline on Sunday morning, October 16th, 1960. Though this visit would be short (Walt was due in St. Louis the following morning), it would be meaningful.
As far back as January, arrangements were made to donate artwork featuring licensed Disney characters & even a flag pole from the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics to the newly constructed elementary school. In turn, the town made arrangements to name the school in honor of their kind benefactor and “favorite son”. Walt Disney Elementary School’s cornerstone was dedicated by the local masonic chapter. In addition, two Disneyland flags (one bearing Mickey Mouse, the other bearing Sleeping Beauty Castle) was gifted the school and raised up the halyard by Walt himself.
How could the people of Walt’s hometown return such a gesture? What do you give the man who makes dreams a reality? Representatives of The Board of Education agreed to bestow upon Walt something unique - an honorary Marceline High School diploma!
Please CLICK the following photo to examine primary communications between Walt and Marceline’s representatives. In addition to these artifacts, note photographs on display which chronicle the events of the schools dedication (including Walt’s inspection of the premises).
“THE MIDGET AUTOPIA DEDICATION”
Walt planned yet another visit to Marceline during the month of July, 1966. He was bearing another gift - the dedication of the only Disneyland attraction ever to be relocated to an area outside Disneyland! The Midget Autopia was one of three Autopia rides operating inside Disneyland, located next to the Fairyland Canal Boats. The “child size” cars ran on a center rail that guided the ride along a concrete track, giving small children the illusion that they were controlling the vehicle.
Towards the close of the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair, Walt was interested in expanding certain walkways in preparation for a new attraction towards the back of Fantasyland. During the 1966 development, it was decided to remove the Midget Autopia, making way for another Arrowflite Development It’s A Small World. As for the Midget Autopia, Walt had big dreams for the attraction. In a taped message, Walt said, “…This ride was very popular with Disneyland’s younger guests and I hope it will be an equally big hit with the children of Marceline.” Unlike his plans in Florida, these would remain under wraps until they were ready to be revealed.
Unprecedented in Disneyland history, WED announced the donation of the ride. Disneyland executive Joe Fowler supervised the Midget Autopia Marceline installation. Walt asked his friend Rush Johnson to present the attraction to the City of Marceline.
Walt Disney is noticeably absent from these photographs. Due to health reasons, Walt never made the journey back to Marceline to deliver his dedication speech for The Midget Autopia. However, his message was recorded and played for the assembled residents of Marceline to hear! In the following gallery, you will notice a copy of Walt’s speech (preserved through the Marceline Chamber of Commerce).
“I remember my brothers and I would ride our bikes to the Walt Disney Swimming Pool. With our mother following us in her car for our safety, much to our dismay. But on two occasions we didn’t mind so much because she bought us tickets so we could ride in the Autopia cars. I rode with my little brother and my older brother rode with a friend. I thought that I was really driving and so did my brother because there were two steering wheels.”
-Cliff Sturgess, Marceline, Missouri.
“WALT’S PASSING & THE MYSTERIOUS MARCELINE PROJECT”
On the evening of November 30, 1966, Walt Disney squeezed in a few last minute meetings at his Burbank Studio complex before heading across the street for a post-operative checkup at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Walt had undergone surgery at the hospital a month earlier to correct an old neck injury sustained during a polo match, but during that procedure doctors had discovered and removed a tumor on his lung.
Fifteen days later, on the morning of December 15th, word swept across the studio lot that Walt had passed. His death truck an emotional nerve across the globe, and when the news eventually reached Marceline that same wave of sadness engulfed the community.
Walt died in December of 1966, just three months after the The Midget Autopia’s dedication. At the time of his passing Walt Disney was supervising the construction of his Florida project , and in the development stages of a large scale project in California called the Mineral King Ski Resort! Many didn’t know it at the time, but there was another “top secret” project underway scheduled for the state of Missouri, called The Marceline Project.
Not much is known about the plans, but guests of The Walt Disney Hometown Museum can browse facsimiles of some of the preserved official WED documents and drawings. Note one of the documents shows a visual status of parcels of land (already acquired and still outstanding) that would encompass and support the almost 300-acre “Marceline Project” park.
One can’t help but wonder how the completion of Walt’s Marceline Project would have altered the economic scene of his boyhood hometown, and the entire region. The Walt Disney Hometown Museum still holds Walt’s Marceline dream close to it’s heart and will continue to work diligently to bring his spectacular dreams to fruition.
“IN MEMORY OF WALT DISNEY”
The day following Walt’s passing, his beloved “hometown” fell silent. Shop doors closed, allowing the entire community to attend a memorial service in the auditorium of the school that still proudly bears Walt’s name. Exactly one year to that date, Marceline said goodbye to their favorite son. Walt was honored through a memorial service held in his boyhood town of Marceline. The service was conducted by The Marceline Ministerial Alliance, in which condolences were expressed : “All of the priests and sisters residing in the community of Marceline join the parishioners of St. Bonaventure Parish and all of the citizens of Marceline in expressing their profound sorrow to Mrs. Disney and her family at the untimely death of Walt Disney.”
Further, Walt Disney Memorial Day was proclaimed by Robert W. Smith (Mayor of The City of Marceline), for December 15, 1967.
“COMMEMORATION”
The community service was not enough. Walt was honored yet again, the following year, thanks to the hard work of many appreciative individuals, loving friends, and family members. Walt Disney’s life and work was commemorated in a special way during September of 1968, when the United States Postal Authority released their first-ever Walt Disney Stamp. Please click on the photo gallery below, to scroll through images and artifacts related to the United States Postal Authority’s work to produce the stamp in Walt Disney’s honor.
“THE SPIRIT OF MICKEY”
Thirty years after Marceline was instrumental in commemorating Walt Disney on a postal stamp, Mickey Mouse was honored in a special Marceline ceremony and showing of Walt Disney’s The Spirit of Mickey. On July 14th 1998, The Walt Disney Company held the world premier of “Spirit of Mickey” at the historic Uptown Theatre. It was the second Disney premier to be held in Marceline following the ‘56 Mid-West Premier of The Great Locomotive Chase starring Fess Parker. That event was hosted by Walt & Roy Disney in person.
The Walt Disney Company gave Marceline a short five week window to help organize the screening. Representatives reached out to local organizations, hoping they could spread the word and gather a crowd of at least five thousand for publicity filming.
With the power of Disney fueling the press, Marceline did something magical…welcoming and hosted an estimated 18,000 Mickey Mouse fans to their small community. The party filled Main Street USA, and it lasted an entire day.
“THE DISNEY PARKS COLLECTION”
THE WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM also holds a gallery which is updated and changed seasonally. During our last visit, the What The Collectors Collect exhibit featured a unique collection of Disney Parks related props and models. Among the artifacts you’ll get the opportunity to see an actual Disneyland Marching Band hat, original attraction posters, Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad tools, and even a remote controlled boat from a Disneyland Hotel attraction. One of the most noticeable pieces is a prop Sword & Shield from Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary.
The period of operation for the WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM has recently been extended beyond it’s original season. In addition, you’ll find that the admission is extremely economical for family excursions and school field trips!
I hope that you enjoyed this celebration of an oft-overlooked chapter of Walt Disney’s life. This will conclude your brief & personal tour of The Walt Disney Hometown Museum today. We hope to see you in walking in Walt’s Marceline footsteps soon!
Tours depart (almost) daily!
WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM HOURS
Tuesday - Saturday : 10am - 4pm
Sunday : 1pm - 4pm
Monday : CLOSED