Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline Missouri

Our one week road trip travel to Missouri has led us to Marceline, the boyhood town of Walt Disney. We arrived in 120 E Santa Fe Ave, Marceline, MO 64658 which was located beside the train tracks in the restored Santa Fe depot. When Walt Disney was a child, he loved to watch the trains goes by.

The Location of the Museum

The museum is located near the train depot, as you can see from the picture above. The premises of the museum is well-kept, with great landscape and fenced in. The museum is located in Marceline, a charming place, has wide roads, many houses were old and probably most of them were historical buildings especially in the heart of the town. When we arrived in the museum, it was late in the afternoon, quiet and maybe less than 10 of us went in to explore the place. There is nothing much to see in Marceline except few areas that connects to Walt Disney. I like the town and most of the people are friendly and since it is a rural town, they know who are guests in their place. There is no big stores in the area. I only saw one 7-11 store and it's not even near this place. If you want to explore Marceline, gas up and bring foods. No McDonalds or KFC around and if you need to use the bathroom, you have to drive a long ways to find one. As I have said, Marceline is a charming place. I would love to comeback and explore the town more.

The Museum

Inside the museum is a collection of Walt Disney and family personal effects such as letters, photos, artifacts, and personal belongings. As I explored the museum, I was indeed transported to a different and simpler time apart from the atmosphere in Disney World. Reading the personal letters of Walt Disney to his friends and family and seeing the personal belongings has made me believe that Walt Disney indeed found magic in Marceline.

The admission fees posted outside.
 Though it says no photography inside, the ladies said it's alright to take photos so; all of us did.

Obviously, Walt Disney loves to collect trains.
No wonder that Disneyland and Disney World have the Main Street Vehicles, World Railroad as well as
the Railroads in Fantasy Land and Frontier land.

This is a gallery of photos and personal letters of Walt Disney and his family.

This is really cute personal effects.
Walt Disney attended Park School in 1908 and he was in first grade.

Walt Disney's desk in first grade. Fascinating huh?

The caption:
Featuring Walt Disney--Marceline's Favorite Son
Walt Disney's First Grade Desk-- Park School 1908
School bell used by principal of Park School when Walt Disney was a student.
Mickey Mouse Flag and Disneyland Flag
donated by Walt Disney at the 1960 dedication of Marceline's
Walt Disney Elementary School 

Colorful Mums During Fall Season in Missouri

This photo was taken a year ago (2012) in Missouri. It was Fall Season. Here we are with my awesome sisters-in-law from Mississippi posing in these gorgeous and colorful mums around us. We were looking for an Amish goodies to buy in the area and we found this Amish Produce Store. My favorite snack that I bought here was the caramelized popcorn and oh so good. I wish that I could have bought more. The pot of mums is priced for $14 and that is really cheap compared to the price here in Florida.

It was really chilly that morning and I love the weather there. I was hoping to see snow but, it never did. We visited Missouri for only a week but, I personally enjoyed the gorgeous farm lands they have. We stayed in Keytesville, MO and we did check out the nearby town called Marceline, the boyhood town of Walt Disney.

It was October and their cool weather made mums bloom perfectly. This place is nice for a short vacation. If you love city life, this is not your place. There are no malls and superstores nearby. There is a Wal-Mart but, it was located almost an hour drive from Lake Nehai. I tell you what, I love Lake Nehai, the place is secluded and has a gorgeous lake view. Why secluded? There is no store there. You have to drive 20 minutes or more to see a small 7-11 store. Maybe we drove more than an hour to reach this Amish store which was an awesome sight for me.

For sure, we all noticed the big pots of beautiful and colorful mums and their price is super cheap.

It was my first time also to see face to face with an Amish. I am just excited to see them in person. They are wearing the typical Amish dress, the black and white. On our next visit, I want to check out more Amish store in the area. Anyway, I have more photos to share soon. Come back to check out okay? Thanks for stopping by.

The Happy Place of Walt Disney : His Barn in Marceline Missouri

When I knew that we were heading to the boyhood town in Marceline, Missouri that day, I was all excited. It will be my first time to have a glimpse of where he grow up. I really don't know what to expect until ... I was there.

There is nothing special about this place really. Just an ordinary farmland, an ordinary barn and the neighborhood still looks the same probably in his time and up to today. I was intrigued!

Caption: THE HAPPY PLACE In 1950 Walt recreated the barn from marceline at his home in california and used it as his personal workshop. It became his "Happy Place" and became the birthplace of "Disney Imagineering."

I would say, Walt really has the amazing minds to get an inspiration out of this place. This place is just an ordinary typical farm land. He loves this place. Sitting here, I was imagining the child Walt running around and playing with the animals in this area.

Caption: "Walt Disney was the age of four when his family moved from Chicago to a forty acre farm in Marceline. Walt quickly learned to love farm life, and the old barn became his and his younger sister Ruth's favorite place to play. 

The barn provided Walt with his first show business experience when he produced a "barn circus" and changed the neighborhood kids a dime admission.

When his audience discovered the circus consisted of a goat, a pig and the family dog and cat dressed in Ruth's doll clothes, they protested. Hearing the commotion. Walt's mother Flora promptly ordered Walt to refund the admission with this admonishment: "If you deliver more than your audience expects-they will never be disappointed." It's a lesson Walt took to heart."

I really find this story amusing. Poor Walt :-) .

Standing here showing you the SON OF THE DREAMING TREE. Behind me is the original tree where Walt Disney used to hang out with his siblings, play around, draw his sketches and observed the nature. The Dreaming Tree where Walt Disney dreams big and his imagination took his name to become an icon in today's generation.

Amazing huh? Remember Mickey Mouse and other animated characters created by Disney? That includes farm life and trains? All those are inspired in this town in fact, the train is displayed in the town here, near the Walt Disney museum.

His interest in trains were developed in Marceline, "a town that owed its existence to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway which ran through it". This is funny facts too that "Walt would put his ear to the tracks in anticipation of the coming train". In Disney World, you can ride the train and see the magical world of Disney. Actually, one of my favorite things to do while at Disney is riding on a train.

  

Does anyone of you know how important Marceline Missouri in the life of Disney?  I bet few only. I lived in Orlando and Disney World is truly the magical place on earth but, when Walt was a boy, this barn is his Happy Place. Next post, I will show you what's inside the barn. If you come to visit Walt's barn in Marceline Missouri, make sure you bring a marker pen :-)

Walt Disney's Dreaming Tree

"To tell the truth, more things of importance 

happened to me in Marceline 

than ever happened since

 or are likely to in the future. - Walt Disney 

Have you ever wonder what motivated Walt Disney to become the icon he was? What was his childhood like? Do you think he lives in a castle just like Cinderella? Well, let me show you what is fascinating in his boyhood town called Marceline in Missouri and about this tree called THE DREAMING TREE.

After visiting the Walt Disney Museum, the lady told us that we might like to check out the Disney farm, the Dreaming Tree and Disney Barn which are located in few blocks away. I asked what's the dreaming tree and she pointed out the old picture of Walt Disney with his iconic tree. I was so excited but then, she told me the tree is already dead. It was struck by lightning but, there was a Dreaming Tree Sapling which was planted in 2004 just beside it. It was planted by Bradford Disney Lund and Walt Disney World Ambassadors. During the planting ceremony, they brought soil all the way from Magic Kingdom and waters from the Rivers of America to be added on the Disney farm.

The location is easy to find. Just a short turn and let me tell you, there's no one there ... no security ... not even a fence for the whole area .... just ordinary neighborhood. We saw less than 5 parking spaces and these ordinary signs. My sister's in-law stayed in the car while I went to the the dreaming tree area.

The signage message: "Welcome to the Dreaming Tree and Walt's Barn. As this is private property, please be respectful. We hope you enjoy your time here."

Another sign: Coming to Marceline: "Elias purchased 45 acres in Marceline from his brother Robert at a price of $125 an acre, promising installment payments with money he was to receive for houses in Chicago that Flora had designed and he had built. In the spring of 1906, the Disney family packed up their belongings and moved to Missouri."

After reading the caption, I was thinking Walt's parents must love the farm life ... you know, from getting used to city life. After seeing the town of Marceline and as I look around this area honestly, this is not the place for me.

Don't get me wrong, Marceline is a beautiful, peaceful, with friendly people and charming place but, this place remain as it is/was. I love to spend 2 months here but, not longer.

I was wondering how fascinating the minds of Walt Disney was, you know, seeing beyond this place (Marceline as his inspiration to his imagination) to have created the famous and the happiest place on Earth, the Disneyland as well as created the most magical place on Earth, the Magic Kingdom.

This Dreaming Tree is very relevant because when Walt Disney was young, he started making drawings of animals around this area, observing every little creatures. Creating fantasies under the shade of this tree together with his younger sister. As I was there looking around the area, I imagined them having fun. The area is not that big now but, looking at the old pictures in the museum, this tree was located in the middle of their farm.

Dreams do come true and look what he accomplished in life Walt Disney became the animator, film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, and international icon. Everyone knows the name Disney and the fun of Disneyland and Disney World. Thanks to him for his imagination ... and that is the reason why, this tree is important. It all started here.

When the Disney family leave Marceline, Walt Disney had subsequent visits to the town and always had the time to visit the Dreaming Tree as well. This tree was struck by lightning few years back and as you can see, it slowly reaching the end.

Walt Disney's vision and legacy will go on for generations to come as the son of the dreaming tree slowly growing. At 9 years old, the son of the dreaming tree hopefully will become an icon that will inspire new dreamers and will follow the footsteps of Walt Disney.

Walt Disney Story: Uptown Theater in Marceline

We went to Missouri to attend a wedding, visit the hometown of Mark Twain in Hannibal and check the haunted house of my brother-in-law but, end up visiting the boyhood hometown of Walt Disney in Marceline. This town is the second largest city of Linn County in Missouri. This town also provided an inspiration for the film Lady and the Tramp and one of the city's major events is September's Toon Fest which well-known artists are invited.

The building above is Uptown Theatre in Main Street USA in Marceline.

"Opened June 30, 1930. In 1956, Walt and Roy Disney held the Midwest premiere of their feature film " The Great Locomotive Chase" in this theater. They personally greeted each child at the door. Walt and Roy took the stage before the movie started and the children of Marceline sang the Mickey Mouse song. Because the Disney program was not broadcast in Marceline the children learned this song especially for this occasion. The movie ran from 1:30 PM in the afternoon up to 1:30 a.m the next morning, so everyone who wanted too, could see the movie. In 1998 the Walt Disney Company held another premiere " The Spirit of Mickey" at this theater. 18,000 enthusiastic Disney fans came to Marceline for the premiere. A special appearance of Mickey."

This is a small movie theater.

"To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in marceline than have happened since - or are likely to in the future." - Walt Disney

Photo of Walt Disney inside.
 

Marceline is a small town and if you love city life, this is not your place. They have no WalMart, Bestbuy, Lowe's or shopping mall. There's nothing like that in here but, this town is full of charm and history.

If you love Rural Life Living, Marceline may work out for you. There are wide farm lands, Amish village nearby, mom and pop cafe where everybody knows everybody.

In the eyes of Walt Disney, this town is beyond imagination infact, this place inspired him to create the beautiful Main Street USA in Disneyworld and Disneyland. I bet you have seen the Uptown Theater, Emporium and City Hall in Disney right? He imagined those from this town in fact, if you visit Marceline, you will certainly recognized the architecture.

This is the front of the theater. Check out the signage on the window :-)

Inside the movie theater ...

Marceline is a nice town to check out and trace back the boyhood life of Walt Disney. The family lived here only for 4 years but gives a tremendous impact of Walt Disney's life. Few blocks away from this street is the Walt Disney museum where interesting Disney family memorabilias are on display. If you visit Marceline, you will also get the chance to see the house of Disney family and the Walt Disney barn which is the happiest place of Walt Disney. Take note, the "happiest place on earth" is Disneyland and the "most magical place on earth" is Magic Kingdom and both properties are own by Walt Disney. You know what's amazing? Walt Disney's happiest place is the barn and nearby it is his Happy Tree. Wanna see the photos? Check out my latest post. Thanks for stopping by. See you all next time.

Walt Disney's The Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom and in Marceline

Standing at the Main Street USA in Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This was taken almost 4 years ago and this place is one of the busiest areas in Magic Kingdom especially when there's a scheduled fireworks.

Have you been to Disneyland or Disneyworld? You probably visited the Main Street, U.S.A right? Here's another photo of Disney World's Main Street USA at night.

The Cinderella castle stands at the end of the Main Street USA.

Did you know that Main Street, U.S.A. is patterned from a Midwest town? Walt Disney created Main Street USA inspired from his boyhood town Marceline in Missouri.

The decor in the Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom is in the early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood town (photo below). Main Street USA has a City Hall where Guest Relations lobby is and cast members provide information and assistance. A working barber shop, the Emporium which carries a wide variety of Disney souvenirs, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and The Plaza Restaurant, Casey's Corner, the Main Street Confectionary and more. I took the  photos below when hubby and I visited the hometown of Walt Disney.

This is Main Street USA in Marceline Missouri and I was in great awe that Walt Disney loves this place. Iconic Disney marks such as the Mickey Mouse is on the glass window, the clock, the train, the emporium,  the movie theatre and more.

This is the Main Street USA in Marceline. The photo below is the real buildings of uptown theatre and emporium where Disney got the inspiration.

A classic Main Street, U.S.A. attraction in Disney is the Walt Disney World Railroad which transports guest throughout the park. In Marceline, this is the train on display whom Disney got the inspiration.

If you have been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, you have seen Walt Disney's reminiscent of the Victorian period of America with the train station, town square, movie theater, city hall, firehouse complete with a steam-powered pump engine, emporium, shops, arcades, double-decker bus, horse-drawn streetcar, jitneys and other bits of memorabilia. That's how he remembered Marceline when he was a child.

Now, this is the original Uptown Theatre when Walt and Roy Disney held the Midwest Premiere of their feature film " The Great Locomotive Chase" and they personally greet each child at the door. Want to see more of Walt Disney's boyhood town? Check out next time. Thanks for stopping by.

Best Western Hotel in Brooksfield

I was really looking forward to travel Missouri and it was realized last October. For almost 5 years in the US, I don't know how many times I traveled the coast of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The view along the scenic route was awesome! The marvelous sunset and sunshine by the beach and by the Gulf, I've seen all that almost everyday. Don't get me wrong! The view to most places that I've lived are perfect. Yet, I miss to see the mountain, LOL. When hubby cancelled our flight to Missouri to take a road trip, we both were excited. I will be posting here our escapades ... one blog at a time. For now, let me share to you about this hotel in Brooksfield, Missouri.

This is a Best Western Hotel along 28622 Highway 11, Brooksfield, Missouri 64628. We stayed in Room 200 and this room has a big glass window facing the only big store in the area, WalMart. We stayed here for one night but, we enjoyed our stay here because our room is super squeaky clean and , the customer service is great.

 

The rate was $84.59 but, I can't find anything to complain. Towels, bathroom, the complimentary breakfast, and Wi_fi speed are perfect. The queen size bed is comfortable. It was heaven after two days of road trip. If you travel towards Kansas City, you should re-charged your strength. Stay at Brooksfield for a day and explore Disney's hometown Marceline which is just few minutes drive. See Disney's childhood playground, his dreaming tree, his old house and his barn.

 

You should visit the Main Street USA at Marceline and see Disney's original memorabilia at Disney Museum. When you are tired, stay in this hotel, you will be refreshed when you wake up in the morning. Take this advice and you will not regret. If you travel far, I doubt if you can see a nice place to sleep for the night. Tell the nice lady at the front desk, I recommend this hotel for you. Enjoy!