In 2001, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum was established in Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri. For those Disneyland fans who are seeing Walt Disney – A Magical Life, this town is shown in the film ahead of Walt Disney’s arrival in Audio-Animatronic form. Those who have any knowledge of Disney history will also recognize Marceline as the town that Walt Disney looked back at fondly. His time in Marceline would influence many different things later in life. Perhaps most importantly, it showed a way to live life with decency that would appear in many of Disney’s films throughout his life.
Walking Where Walt Grew Up
It is often said that Disneyland is the Disney park where Walt Disney walked himself. Marceline, Missouri, is where Walt Disney grew up! What’s even more incredible is that it is open for guests to visit and see where Walt Disney grew up and was inspired by throughout his life.
“Everything connected with Marceline was a thrill to us, coming as we did from Chicago,” Walt said in his 1938 letter to the Marceline News. “The cows, pigs, chickens gave me a big thrill, and perhaps that’s the reason we use so many barnyard animals in the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony pictures today—who knows?”
Walt Disney came to Marceline, Missouri, when he was four years old. At the time, the Disney family came by train. Throughout his life, Walt Disney had a love of trains. Today, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum is appropriately in Marceline’s train station. Formerly the Santa Fe Depot, this museum has over 4,000 artifacts. These include family artifacts, letters, photographs, artwork, and a whole lot more.
Nearby is the Disney family farm and the location where the Dreaming Tree once stood. Just a few miles outside of town, the Disney family lived on the 45-acre farm for five years. There is also the Walt Disney Elementary School found in the town. Walking around Marceline, it becomes easy to understand how Main Street, U.S.A., welcomes guests to Disneyland.
Walt Disney Hometown Museum
At the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, Disney fans can have the chance to connect with Walt Disney in a very different way than at Disneyland. They can walk where Walt Disney played as a child. It gives the opportunity to see the world through a very different lens. This is the lens of a small town in the Midwest. They can see how this small town continued to connect and influence Walt Disney throughout his life. This will add depth and clarity to the Walt Disney story. This is done in a way that can only happen by walking through the streets of Marceline.
Other Happy Places
As Disneyland celebrates its 70th birthday, Daps Magic is kicking off a new focus called Other Happy Places. With this, Daps Magic will be shining the spotlight on places that are connected to the Disney story and legacy that aren’t necessarily a part of The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Hometown Museum is just one of these Other Happy Places.
For more information on the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, visit waltdisneymuseum.org.
Have you been to Marceline or the Walt Disney Hometown Museum? What did you like most about it? Do you have any words of advice for those who would want to visit this foundational place in Walt Disney’s life? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
