Marceline - Walt's Boyhood Home

[MayBWeRMnt2B]

My boyfriend comes from Missouri, so we went up there to visit his family this past week. He took me to Marceline, which is where Walt considered his boyhood home! It is also the Mainstreet USA that Disneyland's and Walt Disney World's, good old Mainstreet USA, is based upon!

Marceline is located in the middle of Missouri basically. It's in the middle of NO WHERE. However, each year they host Toonfest which is a pretty big gathering (anyone ever been?).

The house that Walt's family lived in is still there, on the exact same land that the Disney family owned. The Johnson family lives there now... There is a replica of the barn that Walt used to pretend he was a circus master in. This barn is there for Disney fanatics and admirers of Walt to sign and leave an honor to him. It is AMAZING to see. (Yes, I signed my name!)

There is also Walt's Dreaming tree, where Walt used to sit under. However, the tree was damaged in storms last year, so part of the tree is missing, and it looks like the tree is dying or almost dead. However, they took a sapling from the tree, and planted a new one, so in the future there will be a new, "dreaming tree."

There is also the Walt Disney hometown Museum with TONS of letters from the Disney family. It is all about the Disney family which is AMAZING. All of the family, Roy, Herb, Walt, Ruth, and all of their brother's and sisters and parents... even a few extra relatives! It is amazing to read all of their letters. They are run by donations and volunteers, so they have more to put up and are always accepting donations. There are no pictures allowed in the museum, so I don't have any pictures, but I will say any fan of Walt or Roy, or the Disney family should go visit Marceline and the museum!

Good Old Mainstreet USA... is there. It has numerous stores and you can really see some of the influence that Walt took from it and gave to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It is gorgeous. And inspiring.

Also is the Mainstreet Emporium. They have old one of a kind (or close to) Disney merchandise and older stuff. I got "the story of Minnie Mouse" and original book from 1938 in good Condition. Ryan bought the program from the World Premiere of Fantasia. Both were in great condition. The owners of the store were wonderful and there were TONS of merchandise there.

There's the Uptown Theater where you can stay over night in the Disney suite or in the Mickey Mouse suite... you can also go see the Walt Disney Elementary school! Or Walt Disney Park where Midget Autopia is kept!

Walt & Roy gave the Autopia ride to the side of Marceline as a gift. However, the city is unable to keep it running due to costs. However, with interest in walt's life the past few years, the town of Marceline is getting a little bit more business, and they are working to get it up and running again!


Here are some website links about the city of Marceline and the attractions there...

Welcome from beautiful Uptown Marceline, Missouri! - Uptown Theater where you can stay
Welcome to Toonfest - Toonfest Link for Cartooner's in Walt's Hometown
Home - Marceline Website, not too exciting, but hey its there
Midget Autopia at Yesterland - Information on Midget Autopia
Welcome to The Main Street Emporium - Mainstreet Emporium where we bought our old-school Disney Merchandise!*

*One Note about the Emporium, the lady that owns it is really nice so if you are looking for anything older Disney style, she will look if she has any of it in stock and she will ship it to you. So if there is anything "rare" or something you've been looking for, you might want to try it, there was TONS of stuff to look through. Comics, programs, merchandise, dolls, hats, lunch boxes, records, etc.


I didn't get to spend tons of time there, but I definitely enjoyed it! It is definitely an overnight trip if you explore and really read and dig in to the city, there is enough to do! I hope to go back within the next couple years and I may end up staying at the Uptown Theater if we stay overnight!

[MayBWeRMnt2B]

Here are the photos from Marceline and the MIssouri Trip! Not all of them, all of them are on facebook if your friends with me, but a bunch of them are here!


Clock on Mainstreet USA


Walt's Dreaming Tree!


Walt's Barn & Walk to it on Walt's Land!



Tony Baxter's Signature (Imagineer)


Mine & Ryan's Signature on the Barn


Mainstreet USA


Mainstreet Sign


Mainstreet USA again


City Hall Sign


Uptown Theater


Zurcher Building... building that the Coke Building is Based after


Midget Autopia Track - Only Disney Attraction to ever be outside Disney Property and run outside it. It was donated by Roy & Walt to the city of Marceline. They have the cars in storage as the city can not afford to run them, but they are taking donations to try and get it running again. The track is still there and you can walk on it!



Ryan & Me at Grant's Farm

[Cinderella2]

That is so neat Jeanne!!!!
What a really cool thing to get to do. Thanks for taking photos to share with us.

[disneyfanatic101]

That's really neat Jeanne! Thanks for sharing!

[GIOny]

sounds like a great place to visit, if I ever get out that way someday, I would love to visit there

[MayBWeRMnt2B]

Glad I could accommodate!

[Keasmom]

How cool are you? Thanks for sharing that.

[nicks10]

Thanks for those awesome pictures. I love Tony Baxter's signature!

[SnwhtNdwrfs]

How exciting! What a fun trip.

[lilo88]

Neat o'! That's really neat Jeanne!

[Disney05]

Cool report! Thanks for the pictures.

[MayBWeRMnt2B]

Anytime. Glad I could help! Has anyone else ever been?

[HauntedGabe]

That isn't all that far from us, we may have to weekend that sometime. It would be a great warm up to a WDW trip. Thanks for sharing.