“Prologue - ‘Forever Let Us Hold Our Banner High’”

Disneyland® Park has always flown all sorts of flags! According to The Disneyland Dictionary (printed October of 1959): “There are many flags flown in Disneyland - atop buildings, flag poles and many of Disneyland’s boats. There are American flags of today and flags of our nation’s historical growth, and flags of other countries. There are also Mickey Mouse flags and the official Disneyland flag.”

There was Disneyland’s official flag over the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station, there were historic American revolution-era flags near the Frontierland Dock, and there were even international maritime signal flags over the Tomorrowland Exhibit Halls. Occassionally, international flags decorated thoroughfares during special events like the opening of the Matterhorn in 1959 (pictured above).

“Designing the Court of Honor”

The presentation of the Court of Honor show on the vast DISNEYLAND “stage” was a distinct part of the Disneyland theater concept. About this time, thumbnail sketches and other concept artwork of Disneyland seemed to be unencumbered by restrictions of budget, schedule or the laws of nature and physics. Like the modern “Blue Sky” process, Walt’s team appeared to engage in “free-thinking.” This is what a good amount of Herb Ryman’s “suggestions” depicted for the Entrance to Tomorrowland - some patriotic thematic elements, plenty of fountains, and atomic emblems.

Ultimately, Ryman’s fountains were incorporated into the design of the Tomorrowland Exhibit Halls and a new patriotic salute was born - the Court of Honor. Final designs were quickly generated and approved, like some advanced “High Concept”. Some of these viable project Concepts (as depicted above), were supported by a well-developed business case and built expectation. These concepts were soon followed by drawings which defined all designs, production and construction strategies, costs, schedule, and resource requirements.

“Constructing the Court of Honor”

Construction crews didn't begin work on any of Tomorrowland until six months into the project. F. M. Franz, manager of operations for McNeil Construction expressed: “We feel sure there has never been anything built like this in Southern California, or elsewhere in the United States. Many of the items were constructed from artist’s sketches.” The flag poles were not installed until the final stages of construction. Still, while Tomorrowland was being completed, Bob Thomas quoted Walt, reporting “‘We’ll have flags all over the place,’ he remarked. ‘At the entrance we’ll have a big one with 48 stars… And in Tomorrowland, the flags will have 50 stars - - for Hawaii and Alaska.’”

As of June 2, 1955, C.V. Wood Jr. sent an Inter-Office Memorandum to Walt Disney regarding the best estimates that could be obtained at the time regarding the completion status of individual sections of the Park and Opening Day. C.V. wrote: “Flag Poles: We need location decision.” By July 1, 1954, George Whitney of Disneyland, Inc. directed Amusements, with Ron Miller overseeing analysis, philosophy, capacities, planning, operator training, and amusement procurement. Both George and Ron were likely involved in planning the location for the Court of Honor.

“Dedicating The Court of Honor”

On the Opening Day of Disneyland, The Court of Honor was Tomorrowland’s special star-shaped “hub” (or, plaza), and homage to the current United 48 States of America! The Court of Honor was situated near the center of Tomorrowland, at the entrance to Hobbyland. In the center of the Court of Honor, was (despite Walt’s promise to Bob Thomas) one of Disneyland’s two 48-star flags, flying high. This flag pole was special, because its United States flag was one of two Disneyland flags lowered at the time of the Retreat Ceremony, at the end of each Disneyland day.

On that Opening Day of Disneyland, the free exhibit was dedicated as the forty-eight states were saluted by 48 Boy Scouts of America who ceremoniously hoisted the 48 colorful state flags up their respected poles (all in coordination with a drum line). [See the Disneyland Opening Day Telecast, July 17th, 1955 ; approx. 44:37] Some of these things are preserved through Opening Day documentation.

As a “sidelight,” a relationship with the scouts continued, when (on July 7th, 1956) both Disneyland and Walt Disney were subsequently honored before more than 40,000 Cub Scouts. This took place at a show held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and produced by the Los Angeles Area Boy Scouts of America! Walt Disney was named General Chairman of the big show, which co-starred television’s Mouseketeers, and was divided into four segments - “Adventureland,” “Fantasyland,” “Frontierland,” and “Tomorrowland.”

The flags were originally configured (appropriately) around a star-shaped floral bed in Tomorrowland’s “hub,” but things would soon change as Walt Disney’s promises of an expanding Disneyland would soon come true!

“New magical Opportunities”

Walt Disney, on the eve of Disneyland’s first day of operation, promised innovation, that “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow, to add new things, as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Walt also once said that “Disneyland is like a piece of clay : if there is something I don’t like, I’m not stuck with it. I can reshape and revamp.” A fantastic example is what became of the Court of Honor.

The Court of Honor didn’t last long at Tomorrowland’s hub, because big and efficient changes were soon headed to the Tomorrowland Show. In 1956, the area where the Court of Honor sat was repurposed, in its place AstroJets would circle over Tomorrowland. The star-configured flag poles were repositioned (similar to some of Herb Ryman’s “suggestions”), and efficiently stationed along the sides of Tomorrowland’s entrance, leading the way to the World Clock. Plaques were attached to each pole bearing a United States Flag (pictured), and each plaque featured the date of the state’s admission into the United States Union as well as its State motto. The newly decorated thoroughfare was now renamed the Avenue of Flags!

“A New Formation”

The flag poles lined the perimeter of the plaza containing the World Clock and three flower beds (for both aesthetic and crowd-control purposes). The Flag Poles were now arranged around the Entryway, like that of “Maine, Admitted March 15, 1820, 23rd State, Motto: ‘I Direct,’” which was located to the right of the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry entrance. Though not individually identified on the preceding map excerpt, you can get an idea of the new configuration for the poles.

“New Additions”

Also notable is that the Avenue of Flags saw three editions of this country’s official “Old Glory”. The Avenue of Flags debuted with a 48-star flag of the United States of America. As additions were made to the union, they were reflected in its own “star-spangled” banner that was the showcased centerpiece of the attraction. For example, on July 4th, 1959, an Alaskan Flag Ceremony was held in Tomorrowland commemorating the 49th state to join the union, on January 3rd, 1959! On this occasion, a brand new 49-star flag of the United States of America was hoisted up the flag pole in the center of the Court of Honor! A new pole was also added and the first Disneyland Dictionary printed October of 1959 soon made mention of the “flags of each of the 49 states.” The following year, a 50-star flag (first introduced July 4, 1960 at Fort Mc Henry) made its Disneyland debut.

Throughout that era, this American Flag was (1) of (2) contemporaneous “American flags of today” flown in Disneyland, one at the center of the Court of Honor at the entrance to Tomorrowland. However, a Flag Retreat Ceremony was observed at sun-down every day the park is open, only for the flag that was lowered from the pole in Town Square.

“Flag Installation and Maintenance”

Most of the flags flown at Disneyland during the “fabulous first decade” (including those on the Avenue of Flags)were manufactured by Horetense Van Der Wyk’s Hortie-Van of Pasadena, California. These flags were both installed by the Disneyland Drapery Department. The Disneyland Drapery Department also maintained the flags from weathering and tearing. During those early years, this task was accomplished by 1958 seamstress Al Alvarez, and others.

Guests enjoyed commemorating their visit next to plaques bearing their state’s motto. These guests are commemorating their visit to Tomorrowland next to the plaque of the “land of Lincoln”, the “prairie state” - the State of Illinois’! The motto of the 21st state of the union is proudly displayed, reading “State Sovereignty, National Union”!

At Disneyland, signs were themed to support the stories with respectful graphics, colors, fonts, terminology, the overall design of sign, materials (wood, metal, banners, etc.), and verbiage used on the signage. Here, a plaque bearing one motto of New York (the 11th state of the union) - “excelsior”, sits proudly below the New York State Flag!

Room was made for new developments and the flag poles were soon reconfigured to line the thoroughfare leading into the land of Tomorrow! Now, a decade after the Avenue of Flags was created, the fifty flags of the union lead the way to the brand-new 50-star flag waving over the Clock of the World!

There were only two 49-star flags flown in Disneyland (the other in the center of Town Square).

For some reason the flags were (not flown at Half-Staff, but) tied down perhaps for protection from the wind when this Vintage View was captured.

The Avenue of Flags stretched past Monsanto’s Plastics Home of the Future.

This is what guests saw from Disneyland’s hub, when they turned toward Tomorrowland. “Flags of the States” lined the road to Tomorrowland!

The rest of the forty-eight flags encircled the Clock of the World in Tomorrowland’s hub.

The flags of Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and other States line the way to the entrance of America the Beautiful.

Disneyland has been utilized as a backdrop for many advertising campaigns made for television and publications (like magazines and newspapers). Photographs for the “Schwinn Takes A Trip To Disneyland” catalogue (including this one where the Avenue of Flags was used as a background for the Schwinn Racer) were shot at Disneyland during the Disneyland Tencennial celebration of 1965, and published the following year.

Magic Kingdom Club Administrator Eleanor Heldt once said: “In a way, Disneyland is a United Nations devoted to bringing together and entertaining peoples from every corner of the globe.” Naturally, the Avenue of Flags occasionally featured more than flags of the United States of America. During the International Geophysical Year of July, 1957 to December, 1958, guests walked past the Avenue of Flags attraction at Tomorrowland’s Entryway, and noticed the emblem of the United Nations flanked by flags of the world. These hung over the central floral beds, between Tomorrowland’s exhibit halls, welcoming guests from many nations. This celebration may have been in observance of the Geophysical Year or World Trade Day (which was first celebrated during May of 1957) in association with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Whatever the intent, two years later, Disneyland first celebrated United Nations Day of 1960.

“The Flags of New Tomorrowland”

It seems that New Tomorrowland was to include Flags of the States, which were included on Fun Maps sold at Disneyland Park. But ultimately, by the time that New Tomorrowland would open, the Avenue of Flags attraction had become a thing of the past. In the exact location of the old “Court of Honor” would stand the launchpad for the new RocketJets attraction!

The Avenue of Flags had a legacy within the early plans of Walt Disney World at EPCOT Center.

The Courtyard of the Flags nearly had a legacy in the Courtyard of Nations, a planned centerpiece for Epcot Center in Florida.