Midwest Photos 2

This is the main drag of Marceline, Missouri.
Walt said that it was his inspiration for Main Street, USA in Disneyland.
There are some older buildings along the street, but none of them really look like Main Street in the Disney parks. It might have over one hundred years ago, but the park streets resemble Fort Collins, Colorado more. With that IOOF on the front of the building, I think this may have been a Odd Fellows hall at one time.
This one sure isn't turn of the 20th century, but the radio station call letters have WD in them.
The Midwest premier for the Walt Disney Pictures movie The Great Locomotive Chase was held at Marceline's Uptown Theatre. Walt and Roy personally greeted every child at the door.
The Walt Disney Municipal Park is where the Midget Autopia was built. I believe this is the original sign from when the park opened.
And here is the pool that opened July 4, 1956.
I hope everyone in town likes Walt Disney because his name is all over the place. But who doesn't like Uncle Walt?
The Disney farm is north of town. It is a private residence now, but the owner has part of it open for visitors. This is the remains of Walt's Dreaming Tree. It was where Walt and his sister Ruth played. Sadly it was struck by lightning several years ago and this is all that is left.
But in 2004 Walt's grandson planted Son of Dreaming Tree nearby from a seed from the original tree.
There was a barn on the property but is no longer. This is a reconstruction. Walt used to host barn circuses in the old barn, charging a dime admission to see to see animals dressed in his sister's clothes. Clearly his business acumen started early.
The rebuilt barn is open for visitors to come in and write things on the walls and beams.
I wrote my name. I tried to do the old Disney World "D" with the Mickey head in the middle, but it didn't turn out that well.
The Disney family moved to this house in 1906. There is a sign nearby that quotes Walt. "I went with my family to live in Marceline when I was four years old...I clearly remember the day we arrived there on the train. A Mr. Coffman met us in his wagon and we rode out to our house in the country just outside the city limits. I believe it was called the Crane Farm. My first impression of it was that it had a beautiful front yard."