Rare Color Photos From Disneyland's Opening 62 Years Ago

Disneyland, the park is known for its romantic proposals, synchronized family freak-outs and the largest cumulative theme park attendance in the world, opened 62 years ago Monday. The idea for the theme park came from an epiphany Walt Disney had while visiting Griffith Park in Los Angeles. As he watched his daughters Diane and Sharon ride around the merry-go-round, it came to him: He would make a place where both adults and their children could play and enjoy themselves together. In its early stages, it was referred to as "Mickey Mouse Park." Disneyland as we know it didn't take form until much later; since its opening day on July 17, 1955, it has welcomed over 700 million guests. Construction took exactly a year to complete and cost $17 million. At night, the park houses over 200 feral cats that prowl around the park at night to stalk rodents. Check out these photos for some rare color footage of the park as it was, on its opening day, in 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney sits on a grassy lawn with his grandson at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate A quartet of showgirls poses for a LIFE magazine photographer on the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney sits with his grandson at an outdoor patio table while visiting Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate The Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate Kids run toward Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate People resting by the TWA Moonliner rocket at Tomorrowland at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate The Autopia cars at Disneyland weren't always on tracks, as seen here in 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney sits in the front of a red, horse drawn fire wagon, holding the reins, during the inaugural year at the park. SF Gate Walt Disney sits with his family while they relax at Disneyland. SF Gate Planted flowers forming design of Mickey Mouse's face at Disneyland. For more rare vintage photos of the first days of Disneyland, click "Next." SF Gate Children on the Snow White ride at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse rides in the locomotive cab of a circus train as it arrives at a station in Disneyland, Anaheim, California, July 18, 1955. The train is a real-world version of the one depicted in the animated Disney film, 'Dumbo.' SF Gate Parade participants ready themselves and their costumes for a the televised grand opening of Disneyland, Anaheim, California July 17, 1955. Minnie and Mickey and Donald Duck are among those visible. SF Gate Crowds of people watch the 'Tomorrowland' portion of a parade in celebration of the opening of the Disneyland amusement park, Anaheim, California, July 17, 1955. SF Gate American movie producer, artist, and animator Walt Disney smiles as he stands in front of the Fantasyland castle at the grand opening of Disneyland, Anaheim, California July 17, 1955. SF Gate Crowds walking through gate of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Walt Disney's theme park, Disneyland. SF Gate Children on giant teacup ride at Walt Disney's theme park, Disneyland. SF Gate A menu for Carnation Ice Cream Parlor reads at Disneyland, 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney crosses the drawbridge that saves as the entrance to the castle in what will be the heart of Disneyland, in California on April 16, 1955. SF Gate Children are enjoying the cup and saucer ride in Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on July 19, 1955. For more rare vintage photos of the first days of Disneyland, click "Next." SF Gate Actor Ronald Reagan attends the opening day of Disneyland. SF Gate Actress Adelle August poses during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim,California. SF Gate Actress Kathleen Case poses on the train tracks on Autopia during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim,California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose on the train during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim,California. SF Gate Actress Kathleen Case poses by the railroad steam train during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim,California. SF Gate Actress Adelle August poses as she plays the Esmeralda fortune reader during the opening day of Disneyland. SF Gate Five-year-old Christine Lee of Chicago, doesn't look a bit frightened by the hungry look in Monstro's eye as she sits snugly on the miniature whale's tongue at Disneyland, June 22, 1955. SF Gate A taste of Tahitian scenery at Adventureland, one of the sections of the Disneyland in California, at the point of embarkation, June 7, 1955. SF Gate The City Hall on the edge of the city square was also the offices for the public relations department of Disneyland in California, June 7, 1955. SF Gate The railroad station at entrance to Disneyland in California complete with bell tower, June 7, 1955. Visitors entering Disneyland enter under tunnels at either side of the station. The Disneyland Railroad takes passengers all around the park. For more vintage photos of Disneyland's first days, click "Next". SF Gate Governor Goodwin J. Knight of California, left, and Walt Disney, right, accompanied by Virginia Knight, wife of the governor, back sent, take a ride in an old-time automobile around the 160 acres of Disneyland. Twenty-two thousand invited guests, including many notables, attended the opening of Walt Disney's park. SF Gate Children ride in an old-fashioned stagecoach in the Frontierland area of Disneyland. SF Gate The TWA Moonliner rocketship dominates the Tomorrowland attraction at the Disneyland Amusement Park, July 22, 1955. Disneyland opened its doors on July 17, 1955. SF Gate The Mark Twain riverboat travel around Frontierland on its 15 minute voyage. SF Gate Sleeping Beauty's Castle with park visitors. SF Gate Sleeping Beauty Castle with park visitors. SF Gate Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant located in Fantasyland. A recreation of Captain Hook's ship from Peter Pan, it was demolished in 1982. SF Gate The entrance to Adventureland, home of the Jungle Cruise ride, features natural wonders and wildlife. Located to the west of Main Street, it is the land closest to the park entrance. SF Gate Tomorrowland represents the opportunities and abilities of the future, from earthbound science to extraterrestrial travel. Pictured is the red and white TWA-sponsored Rocket To The Moon standing 70 feet tall as the centerpiece of Tomorrowland. SF Gate The Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in 1955. For more vintage photos of Disneyland's first days, click "Next." SF Gate Gondolas at Disneyland in 1955. SF Gate Boats at the "Rivers in America" attraction in Frontierland. SF Gate Children ride an the train around the 160 acre Disneyland, in Los Angeles, Calif. SF Gate Children visiting Disneyland in Calif., July 22, 1955. SF Gate Children visiting Disneyland in Calif., July 22, 1955. SF Gate A fantastic world of make believe, of yesterday and tomorrow, concocted by Walt Disney, was unveiled at Anaheim, California on July 19, 1955. SF Gate Actress Adelle August poses as she steps in the Autopia ride during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose as they ride on Autopia during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case pose as they ride on Autopia during the Opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actress Adelle August poses as she rides on Autopia during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. For more vintage photos from Disneyland's first days, click "Next." SF Gate This aerial view shows Disneyland as 22,000 invited guests attend opening day festivities of the amusement park in Anaheim, Ca., on July 17, 1955. SF Gate Walt Disney sits on a rock in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in the Fantasyland section of Disneyland on opening day of the amusement theme park in Anaheim, Ca., on July 17, 1955. SF Gate Children sprint across a drawbridge and into the castle that marks the entrance to Fantasyland at the opening of Walt Disney's Disneyland in Anaheim, California, July 17, 1955. Fantasyland had been closed until late in the day, and a virtual stampede developed when it finally opened. SF Gate People fill in the Disneyland amusement park on its opening day in Anaheim, Calif., on July 17, 1955. Guests of honor were California Governor and Mrs. Goodwin J. Knight and Walt Disney, standing foreground. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose as they walk through the park during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actress Adelle August poses during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose on the train during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. For more vintage photos of the first days of Disneyland, click "Next." SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case pose as they play arcade movies during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case pose by the Mark Twain Riverboat during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose as they play arcade games during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Actress Kathleen Case poses with a monkey during the opening day of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. SF Gate Walt Disney (right) and California Governor Goodwin Knight ride an early Pierce-Arrow on the opening day of Disneyland on July 15, 1955. SF Gate On Main Street at Disneyland a crowd of visitors splurge on various different sweet drinks, The Parlor offered yesteryear favorites such as sarsaparilla, cherry phosphate, parfaits and Lover's delight. SF Gate Walt Disney stands framed by the covered waiting room of the Disneyland railroad station on Main Street in Anaheim, Ca., June 9, 1955. Source: (SFGate) Related Links: This Artist Imagines What Classic Disney Movies Would Look Like In 2017 Kurt Russell Remembers His Unlikely Mentor Walt Disney: ‘I knew That Guy Was Cool’

Rare Color Photos From Disneyland’s Opening 62 Years Ago

by Brad Rosenberg
Published July 20, 2017

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