From its grand opening in 1955 to the original “It’s A Small World” ride, these photos of Disneyland’s early days prove that it has always been “the happiest place on Earth.”
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1 of 56The Disneyland entrance in all its mid-century glory. The park officially opened on July 17, 1955, to a crowd of 28,000 eager visitors.Gorillas Don’t Blog
2 of 56Tomorrowland was one of the theme parks in Disneyland and featured Disney’s big ideas for the future. In his own words, “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age… The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.“gameraboy/Flickr
3 of 56Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands, circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 56Tomorrowland in 1968.gameraboy/Flickr
5 of 56Atomic-age rockets adorn this ride. gameraboy/Flickr
6 of 56An “Alice in Wonderland” attraction.roadsidepictures/Flickr 7 of 56Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
8 of 56Toy soldiers put on a holiday show in 1961. Gorillas Don’t Blog
9 of 56Many saw everything Disneyland had to offer via the train, which snaked through park. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 56Replica “Casey Jr.” train from the movie Dumbo with Mickey himself playing engineer. Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
11 of 56Disneyland’s Main Street in 1960. Gorillas Don’t Blog
12 of 56Actor James Garner and his stepdaughter, Kim, enjoy the Dumbo ride. Dec. 12, 1957. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 13 of 56A Mickey Mouse face made of flowers greeted excited children entering the massive park. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
14 of 56Walt Disney shares a treat with Elaine Long, one of the children granted early access to the park. Bettman/Corbis
15 of 56Entry point for the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, 1955. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
16 of 56The Storybook Canal and the Disneyland Skyway helped ferry visitors across the park. Hellcat Vintage 17 of 56The famous “It’s A Small World” ride in its early years.Gorillas Don’t Blog
18 of 56The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
19 of 56An aerial shot of Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party ride in 1965. Stuff From the Park 20 of 56Disneyland holds many daytime parades, many of which aired on live television.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
21 of 56Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960.Viewliner Ltd.
22 of 56Children cross the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as swans swim in the moat’s water below on opening day.Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 23 of 56The Snow White ride scared and thrilled early visitors.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
24 of 56A performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at the park’s Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.gameraboy/Flickr 25 of 56In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States with two requests: to meet actor John Wayne and to visit Disneyland.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
26 of 56Vesey Walker, a band director that many assume was the inspiration for The Music Man, conducts the Disneyland Band. Gorillas Don’t Blog
27 of 56Walt Disney at the Disneyland Opening Ceremony rehearsal in 1955. Vintage Everyday
28 of 56Walt Disney signing autographs in the 1960s.gameraboy/Flickr
29 of 56When the park opened in 1955 it featured Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 30 of 56Actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on the opening day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 31 of 56People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 32 of 56Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher take a ride with two of Taylor’s sons. Jan. 22, 1959. Taylor later celebrated her 60th birthday at the park in a private party of 1,000 guests.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 56The first of many parades at Disneyland on the park’s opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 34 of 56A large crowd of people wait to get into Disneyland on opening day. Many entered by way of counterfeit tickets or by climbing over the park’s fences.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 35 of 56Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, future Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, take a moment during their tour of Disneyland to enjoy some juice, 1961. Wikimedia Commons 36 of 56Walt Disney displays a model replica of the Matterhorn attraction. Ultimately, the completed mountain would equal the size of a 14-story building. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is used for size comparison, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 37 of 56Vice President Richard Nixon, his family, and Walt Disney cheer participants in a parade that inaugurated $6,000,000 worth of new attractions at Disneyland, 1959.Los Angeles Public Library 38 of 56The Disneyland parking lot is packed to the gills on the park’s opening day. July 17, 1955. USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 39 of 56A technician works on the animatronic pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. July 1955. Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 40 of 56Ted Kennedy stands in front of Disneyland’s Matterhorn during a visit to the park in November 1960. Disney via Getty Images 41 of 56Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 42 of 56Mermaids were once a fixture at Disneyland’s Submarine Lagoon. Dreaming of Disney
43 of 56Singer Dick Haymes and his wife, actress Rita Hayworth, spend an afternoon at Disneyland. July 30, 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 56A long line of guests wait their turn to ride the park’s Autopia attraction on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 45 of 56Actor Eddie Fisher also hosted the park’s opening day festivities.
In this photo, Fisher helps spaceman Don MacDonald enjoy a sip of Coke while actress Debbie Reynolds looks on in amusement. Bettmann/Getty Images 46 of 56A lucky child has the privilege of leading a group of baby elephants to the Old-Fashioned Circus Parade, 1955.Los Angeles Public Library 47 of 56Walt Disney examines a model of a sea serpent to be used in the Submarine Voyage ride, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 48 of 56Actress Shirley Temple unties the ribbon to mark the opening of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as Walt Disney looks on, 1957.Los Angeles Public Library 49 of 56Burbank engineers examine a model for a proposed monorail system at the park, April 1962.Los Angeles Public Library 50 of 56Singer Nat King Cole and his son stroll in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during a visit in 1963. Los Angeles Public Library 51 of 56California Governor Goodwin Knight and Walt Disney ride the park’s train on opening day.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 52 of 56A father and daughter prepare for their turn on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 53 of 56A packed Mark Twain Riverboat ride makes its way down river on opening day. The ship later sank that same day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 54 of 56A crowded raft shuttles people over to Tom Sawyer Island, circa 1960.Wikimedia Commons 55 of 56Boxer Lionel Rose spars with Goofy during a visit to Disneyland in August of 1968.Los Angeles Public Library 56 of 56Like this gallery?Share it:
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Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos View Gallery
Since it first opened its gates on July 17, 1955, Disneyland has become one of the most iconic amusement parks on the planet. Dubbed “the happiest place on Earth,” over 750 million people have visited Disneyland since its opening day.
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
1 of 56The Disneyland entrance in all its mid-century glory. The park officially opened on July 17, 1955, to a crowd of 28,000 eager visitors.Gorillas Don’t Blog
2 of 56Tomorrowland was one of the theme parks in Disneyland and featured Disney’s big ideas for the future. In his own words, “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age… The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.“gameraboy/Flickr
3 of 56Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands, circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 56Tomorrowland in 1968.gameraboy/Flickr
5 of 56Atomic-age rockets adorn this ride. gameraboy/Flickr
6 of 56An “Alice in Wonderland” attraction.roadsidepictures/Flickr 7 of 56Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
8 of 56Toy soldiers put on a holiday show in 1961. Gorillas Don’t Blog
9 of 56Many saw everything Disneyland had to offer via the train, which snaked through park. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 56Replica “Casey Jr.” train from the movie Dumbo with Mickey himself playing engineer. Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
11 of 56Disneyland’s Main Street in 1960. Gorillas Don’t Blog
12 of 56Actor James Garner and his stepdaughter, Kim, enjoy the Dumbo ride. Dec. 12, 1957. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 13 of 56A Mickey Mouse face made of flowers greeted excited children entering the massive park. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
14 of 56Walt Disney shares a treat with Elaine Long, one of the children granted early access to the park. Bettman/Corbis
15 of 56Entry point for the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, 1955. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
16 of 56The Storybook Canal and the Disneyland Skyway helped ferry visitors across the park. Hellcat Vintage 17 of 56The famous “It’s A Small World” ride in its early years.Gorillas Don’t Blog
18 of 56The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
19 of 56An aerial shot of Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party ride in 1965. Stuff From the Park 20 of 56Disneyland holds many daytime parades, many of which aired on live television.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
21 of 56Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960.Viewliner Ltd.
22 of 56Children cross the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as swans swim in the moat’s water below on opening day.Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 23 of 56The Snow White ride scared and thrilled early visitors.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
24 of 56A performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at the park’s Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.gameraboy/Flickr 25 of 56In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States with two requests: to meet actor John Wayne and to visit Disneyland.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
26 of 56Vesey Walker, a band director that many assume was the inspiration for The Music Man, conducts the Disneyland Band. Gorillas Don’t Blog
27 of 56Walt Disney at the Disneyland Opening Ceremony rehearsal in 1955. Vintage Everyday
28 of 56Walt Disney signing autographs in the 1960s.gameraboy/Flickr
29 of 56When the park opened in 1955 it featured Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 30 of 56Actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on the opening day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 31 of 56People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 32 of 56Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher take a ride with two of Taylor’s sons. Jan. 22, 1959. Taylor later celebrated her 60th birthday at the park in a private party of 1,000 guests.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 56The first of many parades at Disneyland on the park’s opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 34 of 56A large crowd of people wait to get into Disneyland on opening day. Many entered by way of counterfeit tickets or by climbing over the park’s fences.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 35 of 56Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, future Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, take a moment during their tour of Disneyland to enjoy some juice, 1961. Wikimedia Commons 36 of 56Walt Disney displays a model replica of the Matterhorn attraction. Ultimately, the completed mountain would equal the size of a 14-story building. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is used for size comparison, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 37 of 56Vice President Richard Nixon, his family, and Walt Disney cheer participants in a parade that inaugurated $6,000,000 worth of new attractions at Disneyland, 1959.Los Angeles Public Library 38 of 56The Disneyland parking lot is packed to the gills on the park’s opening day. July 17, 1955. USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 39 of 56A technician works on the animatronic pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. July 1955. Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 40 of 56Ted Kennedy stands in front of Disneyland’s Matterhorn during a visit to the park in November 1960. Disney via Getty Images 41 of 56Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 42 of 56Mermaids were once a fixture at Disneyland’s Submarine Lagoon. Dreaming of Disney
43 of 56Singer Dick Haymes and his wife, actress Rita Hayworth, spend an afternoon at Disneyland. July 30, 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 56A long line of guests wait their turn to ride the park’s Autopia attraction on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 45 of 56Actor Eddie Fisher also hosted the park’s opening day festivities.
In this photo, Fisher helps spaceman Don MacDonald enjoy a sip of Coke while actress Debbie Reynolds looks on in amusement. Bettmann/Getty Images 46 of 56A lucky child has the privilege of leading a group of baby elephants to the Old-Fashioned Circus Parade, 1955.Los Angeles Public Library 47 of 56Walt Disney examines a model of a sea serpent to be used in the Submarine Voyage ride, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 48 of 56Actress Shirley Temple unties the ribbon to mark the opening of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as Walt Disney looks on, 1957.Los Angeles Public Library 49 of 56Burbank engineers examine a model for a proposed monorail system at the park, April 1962.Los Angeles Public Library 50 of 56Singer Nat King Cole and his son stroll in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during a visit in 1963. Los Angeles Public Library 51 of 56California Governor Goodwin Knight and Walt Disney ride the park’s train on opening day.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 52 of 56A father and daughter prepare for their turn on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 53 of 56A packed Mark Twain Riverboat ride makes its way down river on opening day. The ship later sank that same day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 54 of 56A crowded raft shuttles people over to Tom Sawyer Island, circa 1960.Wikimedia Commons 55 of 56Boxer Lionel Rose spars with Goofy during a visit to Disneyland in August of 1968.Los Angeles Public Library 56 of 56Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
1 of 56The Disneyland entrance in all its mid-century glory. The park officially opened on July 17, 1955, to a crowd of 28,000 eager visitors.Gorillas Don’t Blog
2 of 56Tomorrowland was one of the theme parks in Disneyland and featured Disney’s big ideas for the future. In his own words, “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age… The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.“gameraboy/Flickr
3 of 56Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands, circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 56Tomorrowland in 1968.gameraboy/Flickr
5 of 56Atomic-age rockets adorn this ride. gameraboy/Flickr
6 of 56An “Alice in Wonderland” attraction.roadsidepictures/Flickr 7 of 56Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
8 of 56Toy soldiers put on a holiday show in 1961. Gorillas Don’t Blog
9 of 56Many saw everything Disneyland had to offer via the train, which snaked through park. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 56Replica “Casey Jr.” train from the movie Dumbo with Mickey himself playing engineer. Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
11 of 56Disneyland’s Main Street in 1960. Gorillas Don’t Blog
12 of 56Actor James Garner and his stepdaughter, Kim, enjoy the Dumbo ride. Dec. 12, 1957. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 13 of 56A Mickey Mouse face made of flowers greeted excited children entering the massive park. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
14 of 56Walt Disney shares a treat with Elaine Long, one of the children granted early access to the park. Bettman/Corbis
15 of 56Entry point for the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, 1955. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
16 of 56The Storybook Canal and the Disneyland Skyway helped ferry visitors across the park. Hellcat Vintage 17 of 56The famous “It’s A Small World” ride in its early years.Gorillas Don’t Blog
18 of 56The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
19 of 56An aerial shot of Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party ride in 1965. Stuff From the Park 20 of 56Disneyland holds many daytime parades, many of which aired on live television.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
21 of 56Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960.Viewliner Ltd.
22 of 56Children cross the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as swans swim in the moat’s water below on opening day.Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 23 of 56The Snow White ride scared and thrilled early visitors.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
24 of 56A performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at the park’s Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.gameraboy/Flickr 25 of 56In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States with two requests: to meet actor John Wayne and to visit Disneyland.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
26 of 56Vesey Walker, a band director that many assume was the inspiration for The Music Man, conducts the Disneyland Band. Gorillas Don’t Blog
27 of 56Walt Disney at the Disneyland Opening Ceremony rehearsal in 1955. Vintage Everyday
28 of 56Walt Disney signing autographs in the 1960s.gameraboy/Flickr
29 of 56When the park opened in 1955 it featured Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 30 of 56Actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on the opening day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 31 of 56People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 32 of 56Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher take a ride with two of Taylor’s sons. Jan. 22, 1959. Taylor later celebrated her 60th birthday at the park in a private party of 1,000 guests.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 56The first of many parades at Disneyland on the park’s opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 34 of 56A large crowd of people wait to get into Disneyland on opening day. Many entered by way of counterfeit tickets or by climbing over the park’s fences.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 35 of 56Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, future Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, take a moment during their tour of Disneyland to enjoy some juice, 1961. Wikimedia Commons 36 of 56Walt Disney displays a model replica of the Matterhorn attraction. Ultimately, the completed mountain would equal the size of a 14-story building. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is used for size comparison, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 37 of 56Vice President Richard Nixon, his family, and Walt Disney cheer participants in a parade that inaugurated $6,000,000 worth of new attractions at Disneyland, 1959.Los Angeles Public Library 38 of 56The Disneyland parking lot is packed to the gills on the park’s opening day. July 17, 1955. USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 39 of 56A technician works on the animatronic pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. July 1955. Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 40 of 56Ted Kennedy stands in front of Disneyland’s Matterhorn during a visit to the park in November 1960. Disney via Getty Images 41 of 56Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 42 of 56Mermaids were once a fixture at Disneyland’s Submarine Lagoon. Dreaming of Disney
43 of 56Singer Dick Haymes and his wife, actress Rita Hayworth, spend an afternoon at Disneyland. July 30, 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 56A long line of guests wait their turn to ride the park’s Autopia attraction on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 45 of 56Actor Eddie Fisher also hosted the park’s opening day festivities.
In this photo, Fisher helps spaceman Don MacDonald enjoy a sip of Coke while actress Debbie Reynolds looks on in amusement. Bettmann/Getty Images 46 of 56A lucky child has the privilege of leading a group of baby elephants to the Old-Fashioned Circus Parade, 1955.Los Angeles Public Library 47 of 56Walt Disney examines a model of a sea serpent to be used in the Submarine Voyage ride, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 48 of 56Actress Shirley Temple unties the ribbon to mark the opening of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as Walt Disney looks on, 1957.Los Angeles Public Library 49 of 56Burbank engineers examine a model for a proposed monorail system at the park, April 1962.Los Angeles Public Library 50 of 56Singer Nat King Cole and his son stroll in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during a visit in 1963. Los Angeles Public Library 51 of 56California Governor Goodwin Knight and Walt Disney ride the park’s train on opening day.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 52 of 56A father and daughter prepare for their turn on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 53 of 56A packed Mark Twain Riverboat ride makes its way down river on opening day. The ship later sank that same day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 54 of 56A crowded raft shuttles people over to Tom Sawyer Island, circa 1960.Wikimedia Commons 55 of 56Boxer Lionel Rose spars with Goofy during a visit to Disneyland in August of 1968.Los Angeles Public Library 56 of 56Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Share
- Share
1 of 56The Disneyland entrance in all its mid-century glory. The park officially opened on July 17, 1955, to a crowd of 28,000 eager visitors.Gorillas Don’t Blog
2 of 56Tomorrowland was one of the theme parks in Disneyland and featured Disney’s big ideas for the future. In his own words, “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age… The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.“gameraboy/Flickr
3 of 56Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands, circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 56Tomorrowland in 1968.gameraboy/Flickr
5 of 56Atomic-age rockets adorn this ride. gameraboy/Flickr
6 of 56An “Alice in Wonderland” attraction.roadsidepictures/Flickr 7 of 56Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
8 of 56Toy soldiers put on a holiday show in 1961. Gorillas Don’t Blog
9 of 56Many saw everything Disneyland had to offer via the train, which snaked through park. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 56Replica “Casey Jr.” train from the movie Dumbo with Mickey himself playing engineer. Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
11 of 56Disneyland’s Main Street in 1960. Gorillas Don’t Blog
12 of 56Actor James Garner and his stepdaughter, Kim, enjoy the Dumbo ride. Dec. 12, 1957. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 13 of 56A Mickey Mouse face made of flowers greeted excited children entering the massive park. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
14 of 56Walt Disney shares a treat with Elaine Long, one of the children granted early access to the park. Bettman/Corbis
15 of 56Entry point for the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, 1955. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
16 of 56The Storybook Canal and the Disneyland Skyway helped ferry visitors across the park. Hellcat Vintage 17 of 56The famous “It’s A Small World” ride in its early years.Gorillas Don’t Blog
18 of 56The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
19 of 56An aerial shot of Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party ride in 1965. Stuff From the Park 20 of 56Disneyland holds many daytime parades, many of which aired on live television.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
21 of 56Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960.Viewliner Ltd.
22 of 56Children cross the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as swans swim in the moat’s water below on opening day.Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 23 of 56The Snow White ride scared and thrilled early visitors.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
24 of 56A performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at the park’s Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.gameraboy/Flickr 25 of 56In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States with two requests: to meet actor John Wayne and to visit Disneyland.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
26 of 56Vesey Walker, a band director that many assume was the inspiration for The Music Man, conducts the Disneyland Band. Gorillas Don’t Blog
27 of 56Walt Disney at the Disneyland Opening Ceremony rehearsal in 1955. Vintage Everyday
28 of 56Walt Disney signing autographs in the 1960s.gameraboy/Flickr
29 of 56When the park opened in 1955 it featured Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 30 of 56Actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on the opening day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 31 of 56People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 32 of 56Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher take a ride with two of Taylor’s sons. Jan. 22, 1959. Taylor later celebrated her 60th birthday at the park in a private party of 1,000 guests.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 56The first of many parades at Disneyland on the park’s opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 34 of 56A large crowd of people wait to get into Disneyland on opening day. Many entered by way of counterfeit tickets or by climbing over the park’s fences.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 35 of 56Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, future Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, take a moment during their tour of Disneyland to enjoy some juice, 1961. Wikimedia Commons 36 of 56Walt Disney displays a model replica of the Matterhorn attraction. Ultimately, the completed mountain would equal the size of a 14-story building. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is used for size comparison, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 37 of 56Vice President Richard Nixon, his family, and Walt Disney cheer participants in a parade that inaugurated $6,000,000 worth of new attractions at Disneyland, 1959.Los Angeles Public Library 38 of 56The Disneyland parking lot is packed to the gills on the park’s opening day. July 17, 1955. USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 39 of 56A technician works on the animatronic pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. July 1955. Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 40 of 56Ted Kennedy stands in front of Disneyland’s Matterhorn during a visit to the park in November 1960. Disney via Getty Images 41 of 56Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 42 of 56Mermaids were once a fixture at Disneyland’s Submarine Lagoon. Dreaming of Disney
43 of 56Singer Dick Haymes and his wife, actress Rita Hayworth, spend an afternoon at Disneyland. July 30, 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 56A long line of guests wait their turn to ride the park’s Autopia attraction on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 45 of 56Actor Eddie Fisher also hosted the park’s opening day festivities.
In this photo, Fisher helps spaceman Don MacDonald enjoy a sip of Coke while actress Debbie Reynolds looks on in amusement. Bettmann/Getty Images 46 of 56A lucky child has the privilege of leading a group of baby elephants to the Old-Fashioned Circus Parade, 1955.Los Angeles Public Library 47 of 56Walt Disney examines a model of a sea serpent to be used in the Submarine Voyage ride, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library 48 of 56Actress Shirley Temple unties the ribbon to mark the opening of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as Walt Disney looks on, 1957.Los Angeles Public Library 49 of 56Burbank engineers examine a model for a proposed monorail system at the park, April 1962.Los Angeles Public Library 50 of 56Singer Nat King Cole and his son stroll in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during a visit in 1963. Los Angeles Public Library 51 of 56California Governor Goodwin Knight and Walt Disney ride the park’s train on opening day.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images 52 of 56A father and daughter prepare for their turn on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images 53 of 56A packed Mark Twain Riverboat ride makes its way down river on opening day. The ship later sank that same day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 54 of 56A crowded raft shuttles people over to Tom Sawyer Island, circa 1960.Wikimedia Commons 55 of 56Boxer Lionel Rose spars with Goofy during a visit to Disneyland in August of 1968.Los Angeles Public Library 56 of 56Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
1 of 56The Disneyland entrance in all its mid-century glory. The park officially opened on July 17, 1955, to a crowd of 28,000 eager visitors.Gorillas Don’t Blog
2 of 56Tomorrowland was one of the theme parks in Disneyland and featured Disney’s big ideas for the future. In his own words, “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age… The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.“gameraboy/Flickr
3 of 56Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands, circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images
4 of 56Tomorrowland in 1968.gameraboy/Flickr
5 of 56Atomic-age rockets adorn this ride. gameraboy/Flickr
6 of 56An “Alice in Wonderland” attraction.roadsidepictures/Flickr
7 of 56Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
8 of 56Toy soldiers put on a holiday show in 1961. Gorillas Don’t Blog
9 of 56Many saw everything Disneyland had to offer via the train, which snaked through park. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
10 of 56Replica “Casey Jr.” train from the movie Dumbo with Mickey himself playing engineer. Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
11 of 56Disneyland’s Main Street in 1960. Gorillas Don’t Blog
12 of 56Actor James Garner and his stepdaughter, Kim, enjoy the Dumbo ride. Dec. 12, 1957. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
13 of 56A Mickey Mouse face made of flowers greeted excited children entering the massive park. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
14 of 56Walt Disney shares a treat with Elaine Long, one of the children granted early access to the park. Bettman/Corbis
15 of 56Entry point for the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, 1955. Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
16 of 56The Storybook Canal and the Disneyland Skyway helped ferry visitors across the park. Hellcat Vintage
17 of 56The famous “It’s A Small World” ride in its early years.Gorillas Don’t Blog
18 of 56The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
19 of 56An aerial shot of Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party ride in 1965. Stuff From the Park
20 of 56Disneyland holds many daytime parades, many of which aired on live television.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
21 of 56Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960.Viewliner Ltd.
22 of 56Children cross the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as swans swim in the moat’s water below on opening day.Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
23 of 56The Snow White ride scared and thrilled early visitors.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
24 of 56A performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at the park’s Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.gameraboy/Flickr
25 of 56In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States with two requests: to meet actor John Wayne and to visit Disneyland.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
26 of 56Vesey Walker, a band director that many assume was the inspiration for The Music Man, conducts the Disneyland Band. Gorillas Don’t Blog
27 of 56Walt Disney at the Disneyland Opening Ceremony rehearsal in 1955. Vintage Everyday
28 of 56Walt Disney signing autographs in the 1960s.gameraboy/Flickr
29 of 56When the park opened in 1955 it featured Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
30 of 56Actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on the opening day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
31 of 56People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
32 of 56Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher take a ride with two of Taylor’s sons. Jan. 22, 1959. Taylor later celebrated her 60th birthday at the park in a private party of 1,000 guests.Bettmann/Getty Images
33 of 56The first of many parades at Disneyland on the park’s opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
34 of 56A large crowd of people wait to get into Disneyland on opening day. Many entered by way of counterfeit tickets or by climbing over the park’s fences.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images
35 of 56Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, future Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, take a moment during their tour of Disneyland to enjoy some juice, 1961. Wikimedia Commons
36 of 56Walt Disney displays a model replica of the Matterhorn attraction. Ultimately, the completed mountain would equal the size of a 14-story building. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is used for size comparison, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library
37 of 56Vice President Richard Nixon, his family, and Walt Disney cheer participants in a parade that inaugurated $6,000,000 worth of new attractions at Disneyland, 1959.Los Angeles Public Library
38 of 56The Disneyland parking lot is packed to the gills on the park’s opening day. July 17, 1955. USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images
39 of 56A technician works on the animatronic pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. July 1955. Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
40 of 56Ted Kennedy stands in front of Disneyland’s Matterhorn during a visit to the park in November 1960. Disney via Getty Images
41 of 56Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
42 of 56Mermaids were once a fixture at Disneyland’s Submarine Lagoon. Dreaming of Disney
43 of 56Singer Dick Haymes and his wife, actress Rita Hayworth, spend an afternoon at Disneyland. July 30, 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images
44 of 56A long line of guests wait their turn to ride the park’s Autopia attraction on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
45 of 56Actor Eddie Fisher also hosted the park’s opening day festivities.
In this photo, Fisher helps spaceman Don MacDonald enjoy a sip of Coke while actress Debbie Reynolds looks on in amusement. Bettmann/Getty Images
46 of 56A lucky child has the privilege of leading a group of baby elephants to the Old-Fashioned Circus Parade, 1955.Los Angeles Public Library
47 of 56Walt Disney examines a model of a sea serpent to be used in the Submarine Voyage ride, circa 1950s. Los Angeles Public Library
48 of 56Actress Shirley Temple unties the ribbon to mark the opening of Sleeping Beauty’s castle as Walt Disney looks on, 1957.Los Angeles Public Library
49 of 56Burbank engineers examine a model for a proposed monorail system at the park, April 1962.Los Angeles Public Library
50 of 56Singer Nat King Cole and his son stroll in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during a visit in 1963. Los Angeles Public Library
51 of 56California Governor Goodwin Knight and Walt Disney ride the park’s train on opening day.USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images
52 of 56A father and daughter prepare for their turn on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on opening day.Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
53 of 56A packed Mark Twain Riverboat ride makes its way down river on opening day. The ship later sank that same day.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
54 of 56A crowded raft shuttles people over to Tom Sawyer Island, circa 1960.Wikimedia Commons
55 of 56Boxer Lionel Rose spars with Goofy during a visit to Disneyland in August of 1968.Los Angeles Public Library
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Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos View Gallery
Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos View Gallery
Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos View Gallery
Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos View Gallery
Explore Vintage Disneyland In 55 Magical Photos
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The brainchild of Walt Disney himself, the park came to be after Disney spent an afternoon with his two daughters at Los Angeles’ Griffith Park in the early 1930s. While watching his girls enjoy the park’s carousel, Disney had the idea of creating a park full of rides that an entire family could enjoy.
It took two decades of planning. Disney borrowed against his own life insurance and sold off some property, even as others marked his project as a premature failure. Some in Hollywood dubbed the park “Walt’s folly.”
Since his reputation was on the line and his finances at stake, Disney set the lofty goal of opening Disneyland a year after construction on it started. It’s likely he knew this would be a stretch, but he wished upon a star — and his wish came true.
Many Thought The Ambitious Park Would Fail
The construction of Schweitzer Falls, in vintage Disneyland, 1955.
The original park was much smaller than modern-day Disneyland and was therefore constructed rather quickly.
Disney had shared his first ideas for what the park might look like with production designer Dick Kelsey on Aug. 31, 1948. These were based on concepts that Disney had for a park then-known as “Mickey Mouse Park.”
Over the next several years, and with the help of artist Herb Ryman, the concept slowly materialized. On July 16, 1954, construction began.
Disney also managed to secure a partnership with the television network ABC, which aired the progress of his park in a bid to drum up attention over it. Tropical jungles emerged, a frontier fort went up, and Sleeping Beauty’s ornate castle, which was modeled on Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle began to replace the orange groves on the Anaheim lot.
But progress was sporadic, and it soon became apparent that the one-year construction timeline was a little too ambitious for such a monumental project — and issues kept cropping up.
“A few weeks before the opening, there was a major meeting,” chairman of Walt Disney Attractions, Dick Nunis, explained. “There was a plumbing strike. I’ll never forget this. I happened to be in the meeting. So the contractor was telling Walt, ‘Walt, there aren’t enough hours in the day to finish the restrooms and to finish all the drinking fountains.’ And this is classic Walt. He said, ‘Well, you know they could drink Coke and Pepsi, but they can’t pee in the streets. Finish the restrooms.’”
True to Disney’s plan, the park opened just one year and one day after work began. It wasn’t quite finished, but according to Disney, it may never be truly finished.
Indeed, Disney noted, “Disneyland will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world”.
Problems Abounded At Disneyland’s Opening Day
ABC’s complete footage of opening day at Disneyland, 1955.
Opening day was initially intended to be a smaller event — tickets were sold by “invite-only” and not available to the general public — but bootleg tickets circulated widely. The planned-for 6,000 guests transformed into over 28,000.
ABC’s complete footage of opening day at Disneyland, 1955.
In addition to the counterfeit tickets, people clambered over Disneyland’s fences thanks to a wily entrepreneur charging $5 for the use of his ladder.
Many other things went wrong on Disneyland’s first day of operation. The water fountains didn’t work, and the overflow of people wiped out concession stands within hours. The weather was so hot that day that newly poured asphalt softened, trapping many a high-heel in black goo.
Some rides and attractions weren’t completed, others suffered breakdowns, and the overcrowded Mark Twain Riverboat in Frontierland sank in the mud.
“It took about 20 to 30 minutes to get it fixed and back on the rail and it came chugging in,” Terry O’Brien, the opening day ride operator for the Mark Twain Riverboat recalled. “As soon as it pulled up to the landing, all the people rushed to the side to get off, and the boat tipped into the water again, so they all had to wade off through the water, and some of them were pretty mad.”
Yet, people didn’t leave. Despite all these catastrophes, morning ticketholders remained through the afternoon, making the park even more crowded as the day went on.
The Park Quickly Became ‘The Happiest Place On Earth’
ThomasHawk/FlickrMonsanto’s “House of the Future” in the futuristic Tomorrowland section of Disneyland. The house was supposedly supposed to demonstrate the many uses of plastic.
Meanwhile, ABC broadcast the park’s grand opening live. An estimated 70 million people (the country had a population of 165 million at the time) tuned in to watch.
Walt Disney presided over opening ceremonies and gave a speech. One of his co-hosts was none other than the actor (and future president), Ronald Reagan.
The fanfare also included a benediction by a Protestant minister and the playing of the national anthem. There was even a flyover by the Air National Guard of California.
Special guests included friends and family of employees and the press, as well as some celebrities. The likes of Jerry Lewis, Debbie Reynolds, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, and others appeared on the guest list.
The original park featured themed sections, including Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Disney’s hometown in Missouri. The park has since added Critterland, Mickey’s Toontown, New Orleans Square, and Star Wars: Galaxy Edge’s.
Once the dust of opening day settled, Disneyland stole people’s hearts. The park was indeed one of the happiest places on Earth. These vintage Disneyland photos serve as a reminder of just how iconic the park has been in American culture.
If you care to see the creepier side of theme parks, check out these eerie abandoned amusement parks that time forgot. And if looking into the history of iconic locations is up your alley, then you’ll enjoy these photos of famous landmarks before they were completed.
