Walt Disney Hometown Museum

Last updated
Marceline, MO
Marceline Station - February 2017.jpg
The Walt Disney Hometown Museum, located in the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway depot.
General information
Location120 East Santa Fe Avenue, Marceline, Missouri 64658
History
ClosedMay 11, 1997 [1]
Rebuilt1913 [2]
Former services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Following station
Carrollton
toward Dallas or Houston
Lone Star La Plata
toward Chicago
Kansas City
toward Los Angeles
Southwest Chief
Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station
Rothville
toward Los Angeles
Main Line Bucklin
toward Chicago
Walt Disney Hometown Museum
USA Missouri location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Missouri
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Walt Disney Hometown Museum (the United States)
Established2001 (2001)
Location120 E. Santa Fe Avenue, Marceline, Missouri
Coordinates 39°42′57″N92°56′51″W / 39.7159°N 92.9476°W / 39.7159; -92.9476
Type Hall of Memory
Key holdings Walt Disney family memorabilia
Website waltdisneymuseum.org

The Walt Disney Hometown Museum is located in the restored Santa Fe Railway Depot in Marceline, Missouri. Opened in 2001, the museum houses a collection of memorabilia from the Disney family's farm where they lived from 1905 to 1909 along with Walt Disney's return to the town in 1946. [3]

Many of the items were donated by the family of Ruth Flora Disney Beecher, Walt's sister. Artifacts include personal family letters and photos, Disney's wooden school desk and a recording of him asking his parents about their life. [4] The museum houses the only remaining components of a Disneyland ride to be operated outside of Disneyland, the Midget Autopia. [5] The museum also houses artifacts from the town's railroad history, including ATSF 5008, an EMD SD40 built in 1966. [6]

In 2015, the museum launched a project to recreate the Midget Autopia attraction that had operated in the Walt Disney Municipal Park south of town. The miniature car ride was donated by Disney when the attraction was dismantled at Disneyland. The town operated the ride from 1966 until rising insurance costs and a lack of replacement parts forced its closure in 1977. A single restored car is on display at the museum and was the centerpiece of a Kickstarter project to finance a $500,000 reconstruction of the ride, launched in July 2015. [7] [8] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marceline, Missouri</span> City in Missouri, United States

Marceline is a city in Chariton and Linn counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 2,123 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Kingdom</span> Theme park at Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom Park is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, it opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division, the official park name has changed slightly over the years, from Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (1971–1994) and The Magic Kingdom (1994–2017), the park was initialized by Walt Disney and designed by WED Enterprises. the park layout and attractions were based on Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and are dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PeopleMover (Disneyland)</span> Former attraction at Disneyland

The PeopleMover, sometimes referred to as the Goodyear PeopleMover and WEDWay PeopleMover, was a transport attraction that opened on July 2, 1967, in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Guests boarded small trains that ran on elevated tracks for a "grand circle tour" above Tomorrowland. The term "people mover", now in wider use to describe many forms of automated public transport, was first coined as the name for this attraction. PeopleMover was originally only a working title, but became attached to the project over time. The attraction was initially seen as a serious prototype for intercity public transport. The ride closed on August 21, 1995, but its station and track infrastructure—which it shared with its short-lived successor, Rocket Rods—remain standing as of 2024. A second PeopleMover opened on July 1, 1975 in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida near Orlando, Florida, and is still operating today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket Rods</span> Defunct attraction at Disneyland

Rocket Rods was a high-speed thrill attraction located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, Anaheim, California. The ride was themed around a hypothetical “drag race” of the future, as well as a futuristic rapid transit system. The ride opened in May 1998, utilizing the existing PeopleMover track and infrastructure as part of the New Tomorrowland refurbishment project. Plagued from its inception with technical problems and mechanical repairs, Rocket Rods was shut down indefinitely for renovations in September 2000; ultimately, the ride would be fully shut down, as confirmed via an official press release in April 2001, after two years of sporadic operations. While Rocket Rods' queue was replaced with the Toy Story-themed dark ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters in 2005, the majority of the track infrastructure utilized by both the attraction and its predecessor still sit, visibly derelict, throughout Tomorrowland as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolwood Pacific Railroad</span> Ridable miniature backyard steam railroad owned by Walt Disney

The Carolwood Pacific Railroad (CPRR) was a 7+14-inch gauge ridable miniature railroad run by Walt Disney in the backyard of his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It featured the Lilly Belle, a 1:8-scale live steam locomotive named after Disney's wife, Lillian Disney, and built by the Walt Disney Studios' machine shop. The locomotive made its first test run on December 24, 1949. It pulled a set of freight cars, as well as a caboose that was almost entirely built by Disney himself. It was Disney's lifelong fascination with trains, as well as his interest in miniature models, that led to the creation of the CPRR. The railroad, which became operational in 1950, was 2,615 feet (797 m) long and encircled his house. The backyard railroad attracted visitors to Disney's home; he invited them to ride and occasionally drive his miniature train. In 1953, after an accident occurred in which a guest was injured, the CPRR was closed to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)</span> Themed land at Disney theme parks

Tomorrowland is one of the many "themed lands" featured at all of the Magic Kingdom styled Disney theme parks around the world owned or licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Each version of the land is different and features numerous attractions that depict views of the future. Disneyland Park in Paris includes a similar area called Discoveryland, which shares some elements with other Tomorrowlands but emphasizes visions of the future inspired by Jules Verne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland Railroad</span> Steam railroad system in Disneyland

The Disneyland Railroad (DRR), formerly known as the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, is a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in the United States. Its route is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and encircles the majority of the park, with train stations in four different park areas. The rail line, which was constructed by WED Enterprises, operates with two steam locomotives built by WED and three historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The ride takes roughly 18 minutes to complete a round trip on its main line when three trains are running, and 20 minutes when four trains are running. Two to four trains can be in operation at any time, three on average.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasyland</span> Themed land at Disney theme parks

Fantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at all of the Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. It is themed after Disney's animated fairy tale feature films. Each Fantasyland has a castle, as well as several gentle rides themed after those Disney animated feature films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autopia</span> Attraction at Disney theme parks

Autopia is a race car track attraction at various Disney theme parks, in which patrons steer specially designed cars through an enclosed track. Versions of Autopia exist at Disneyland at Anaheim, California and Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. There was also an Autopia at Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island, Hong Kong before it closed on June 11, 2016. Other versions of the attraction can be found at the Magic Kingdom as the Tomorrowland Speedway and formerly at Tokyo Disneyland as the Grand Circuit Raceway. A previous generation of Disneyland's Autopia operated for over a decade at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri; one of the retired cars is now on display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland Hotel (California)</span> Hotel at Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Hotel is a resort hotel located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, owned by the Walt Disney Company and operated through their Experiences division. Opened on October 5, 1955, as a motor inn owned and operated by Jack Wrather under an agreement with Walt Disney, the hotel was the first to officially bear the Disney name. Under Wrather's ownership, the hotel underwent several expansions and renovations over the years before being acquired by Disney in 1988. The hotel was downsized to its present capacity in 1999 as part of the Disneyland Resort expansion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn</span> Railroad museum in California, US

Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn is a museum located within the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (LALSRM) complex at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California. The barn, which was originally located in the backyard of Walt Disney's Holmby Hills home, features artifacts and displays related to Disney and his lifelong fascination with trains. The barn and surrounding exhibits are open to the public the third Sunday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PST. Admission is free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Broggie</span> American historian

Michael Broggie is an American author and historian who specializes in the history of Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company—specifically Disney's connection to railroads. He is the son of Roger E. Broggie, who was selected by Walt Disney to be the first Imagineer.

Motor Boat Cruise was an attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in which patrons steer motor boats, which were guided through a hidden track similar to the Autopia ride. It operated from June 1957 until January 11, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland</span> Amusement park in Anaheim, California

Disneyland is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, and opened on July 17, 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Street Vehicles</span> Transport attraction at Disney theme parks

Main Street Vehicles is a series of turn-of-the-20th-century-style vehicle attractions consisting of 3 ft narrow gauge tramways with horse-drawn streetcars and free-roaming motor vehicles in Disney theme parks throughout the world. They usually operate in their respective Main Street, U.S.A. sections, transporting park guests on one-way trips between the Town Square at the park's entrance and the Central Plaza at the park's center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum</span>

The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (LALSRM) is a non-profit public-benefit corporation founded in 1956 by live steam enthusiasts for the purpose of educating the public about railroad history and lore, and to promote live steam and scale model railroad technology. The museum is located in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday weather permitting. In 1956, all of the model locomotives were steam-powered, hence the name "Live Steamers". Over the years, gasoline-powered models of diesel locomotives and battery-electric locomotives and trolleys have also become popular. The museum operates a 7+12 in gauge miniature railway on which these locomotives pull trains that the public can ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Street, U.S.A.</span> Themed land at Disney theme parks

Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many theme parks operated or licensed by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Main Street, U.S.A. is themed to resemble American small towns during the early 20th Century. In Tokyo Disneyland, it is called World Bazaar and covered by a glass Victorian-style conservatory roof to shield guests from the weather there. At Shanghai Disneyland, it is called Mickey Avenue and is orientated to help introduce visitors to Disney characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland</span> Former attraction at Disneyland

The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland was a 2 ft 6 in narrow gauge railroad attraction in Frontierland in Disneyland, that featured Audio-Animatronic animals in natural desert- and woods-themed environments. It opened on June 12, 1960, as an extension of Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, which opened on July 2, 1956. It closed on January 2, 1977, to make room for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

References

  1. Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 134. ISBN   9780253027931.
  2. "Marceline Proud of Its New Station". The Catholic Tribune. St. Joseph, Missouri. April 26, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved January 1, 2020 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. Winnerman, Jim (July 22, 2012). "Marceline, Mo.: The original 'Main Street' USA". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  4. Weiss, Werner (March 28, 2014). "Walt Disney Hometown Museum". Yesterland. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  5. "Five places to see in nearby Linn County". Chillicothe News. Archived from the original on 2015-11-16. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  6. "Railroad Collection". Walt Disney Hometown Museum. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  7. "Bring Back Autopia". Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  8. Reynolds, Christopher (July 31, 2015). "Disneyland's long-lost Midget Autopia may roll again—in Missouri". Los Angeles Times.
  9. "Autopia". Yesterland.