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Fantasyland Opens
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Sleeping Beauty Castle Under Construction
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Opening Day Dedication – July 17, 1955
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America’s Princess
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Walt Disney’s Railroad
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Disneyland Hotel
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Matterhorn Model
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Future Site of Disneyland
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Disneyland Unveiled
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Main Street Under Construction
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Tomorrowland Under Construction
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Opening Day
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Mad Tea Party
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Making ‘it’s a small world’
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House of the Future
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WALT DISNEY AT THE ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM (1963)
- Hundreds of children run through Sleeping Beauty Castle after the long-awaited lowering of the drawbridge into Fantasyland on July 17, 1955. (Disneyland Resort)
- Two months before she "awoke" to opening day visitors, this Disneyland landmark was getting a few final touches from construction workers. Walt Disney wanted this castle to be a friendly and welcoming presence in his park so it was built on a smaller scale than its European counterparts. (Disneyland Resort)
- Walt Disney reads the Disneyland dedication plaque before a national television audience; "To all who come to this happy place - welcome..." (Disneyland Resort)
- Former child star and future diplomat Shirley Temple joins Walt Disney at the opening of the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough at Disneyland on April 29, 1957. The walkthrough, located inside the iconic castle, featured the story of Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty' told through a series of dioramas. (Disneyland Resort)
- WALT DISNEY ON THE DISNEYLAND RAILROAD (ANAHEIM, Calif.) - One of the original attractions from opening day and arguably Walt Disney's personal favorite, the trains of the Disneyland Railroad remains an icon of the Disneyland Resort. As guests hop aboard these authentic steam-powered trains, they embark on a scenic tour of Disneyland park, including the Rivers of America along with the legendary Dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World.(Disneyland Resort)
- The Disneyland Hotel opened across the street from Disneyland in 1955, but was built and owned by Walt's friend, Jack Wrather until purchased from The Wrather Corporation in 1988. The Disneyland Monorail track was expanded in 1961 to transport guests to and from the hotel, making it the only monorail in the country to cross a public street. (Disneyland Resort)
- Walt Disney reviews a model for the Matterhorn Bobsleds which opened in 1959 at a height of 147 feet. (Disneyland Resort)
- Originally covered with orange groves and made up of parcels of land owned by 17 different people, Walt Disney purchased 160 acres in Anaheim to build his dream of a place where parents and children could have fun - together. (Disneyland Resort)
- In front of an early rendering by Disney legend Peter Ellenshaw, Walt Disney unveils his plans for Disneyland to a national television audience during the premiere of "Disneyland" the television show, October 27, 1954. (Disneyland Resort)
- Workers prepare to pour cement where the northern edge of Town Square meets Main Street USA. (Disneyland Resort)
- Only days before opening day, a crane lifts the "Rocket to the Moon" during construction of Tomorrowland. (Disneyland Resort)
- This is a rare color image of opening day taken outside the Main Entrance of Disneyland on July 17, 1955. (Disneyland Resort)
- This opening day attraction, based on a scene in "Alice in Wonderland," spins Disneyland guests in giant teacups. Pictured here at its original location, it was moved near the Matterhorn in 1983 during the construction of the new Fantasyland. (Disneyland Resort)
- Walt Disney "meets" some residents of the 'it's a small world' attraction at Disneyland in California, during construction in May, 1966. One of the most popular Disney attractions of all time, the show is a fun-filled and whimsical salute to the children of the world that conveys its message of peace and harmony through the international language of music. (Disneyland Resort)
- Built of plastics, this four-winged "ultra-modern" house was on display from 1957 to 1967 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. The House of the Future featured the latest in furniture and appliances along with intercoms and other gadgets that were not common in most homes at the time. (Disneyland Resort)
- The first attraction to feature sophisticated Audio-Animatronics figures opened June 23, 1963. The show features more than 200 birds, tikis and flowers. (Disneyland Resort)