Walt Disney dreamed for decades about opening the ultimate entertainment
venue, but it wasn't until the early 1950s that his handpicked team
began to bring his vision to life. Together, artists, architects, and
engineers transformed a dusty tract of orange groves about an hour south
of Los Angeles into one of the world's most beloved destinations.
Today, there are Disney resorts from Paris to Shanghai, but the original
Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which has been visited by more than
800 million people to-date, remains one of America's most popular
attractions. From the day it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland brought
history and fairy tales to life, the future into the present, and
exciting cultures and galaxies unknown to our imaginations.
This bountiful visual history draws on Disney's vast historical
collections, private archives, and the golden age of photojournalism to
provide unique access to the concept, development, launch, and enjoyment
of this sun-drenched oasis of fun and fantasy. Disneyland documents
Walt's earliest inspirations and ideas; the park's extraordinary feats
of design and engineering; its grand opening; each of its immersive
"lands" from Main Street, U.S.A., to Tomorrowland; and the park's
evolution through the six decades since it opened. It is a treasure
trove of original Disney documentation and expertise, with award-winning
writer Chris Nichols drawing on his extensive knowledge of both
Disneyland and Southern California history to reveal the fascinating
tale of "the happiest place on Earth."
