A Magical Way to Experience American History at Walt Disney World
You don’t have to make the trip up to Philadelphia, Boston or Colonial Williamsburg to feel as if you’ve stepped 250 years back in time to the roots of our nation. Just head to Walt Disney World! Seriously…
In Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, you’ll find Liberty Square, where everything was designed with intention and a story to tell. In this case, it’s not a land of fairy tales. It’s the American story.
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Liberty Square: The Inspiration
Walt Disney had a lifelong love of American history and its founders, especially President Abraham Lincoln. Our friends at Disney tell us Liberty Square was actually a concept that Walt and his creative team dreamed up as part of the expansion of Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland in California. But they called it Liberty Street and drew inspiration from Walt Disney’s 1957 film adaptation of the novel “Johnny Tremain” by Esther Forbes.
It was never built at Disneyland, but good ideas don’t go to waste within the Walt Disney Company. Sometimes, they’re saved for later. The idea was later brought to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World as one of the original lands when it opened in October 1971 and became known as Liberty Square.
The timing of the opening was pretty good, too, with the approaching American Bicentennial in 1976. As we enter our nation’s semiquincentennial, let’s explore this place that is full of more stories than we have room to tell!
Liberty Square’s Nods to America’s Story
The Bridge to Liberty Square: The wooden bridge into Liberty Square was inspired by the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, which is often referred to as the location of “the shot heard 'round the world,” which marked the start of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. You can still visit the real bridge today in Massachusetts, or just take a stroll over it here at Magic Kingdom.
The Architecture: Ever notice the buildings aren’t quite the same here? That’s intentional. The buildings take you on a journey through early American regional architecture, like Sleepy Hollow’s nod to Dutch New Amsterdam, now modern-day New York, to Ye Old Christmas Shoppe’s Georgian style found in Colonial Williamsburg.
Crooked Shutters: This wasn’t an accident! During the Revolutionary War, people removed the metal hardware from their window shutters so it could be repurposed for the war effort. Leather straps were used instead, which would sag over time.
The Liberty Tree: The original Liberty Tree, an elm tree, was located in Boston and served as a meeting point for the Sons of Liberty, including protests against British taxation on the colonies, such as the Stamp Act. Liberty Trees became symbols of American free speech and the right to assemble. You’ll find 13 lanterns among its branches, representing each of the original 13 colonies.
Fun Fact: The Liberty Tree in Liberty Square is a southern live oak that was originally identified eight miles away from where it stands today. At the time, it was estimated to be 100 years old and had a 60-foot circumference. To be moved, the oak had two steel rods drilled through the hardest section of its trunk, forming a cross by which it could be lifted.
Liberty Bell: The Liberty Bell in Liberty Square was cast from the same mold as the original Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Colonists would use bells to deliver important news. While it was not actually rung on July 4, 1776, it’s believed it may have rung on July 8, 1776, for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, according to the National Park Service.
The Court of Flags. The Liberty Square Bell is surrounded by the flags of the 13 original colonies, with plaques on each flag pole marking the date each colony ratified the US Constitution to become a state and enter the Union.
Replica of the Capitol Building that housed the House of Burgesses: George Washington’s political career began at the Virginia House of Burgesses in Williamsburg.
- Look up here. This is where you’ll spot two lanterns in the upper-right window, a nod to Paul Revere's midnight ride and the lantern signals he used that were made famous in the line “One if by land, two if by sea” –words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, Paul Revere’s Ride.
Hall of Presidents:
This is a great place to cool off, but also to relive 250 years of American history through a 25-minute show featuring animatronics of all US presidents. This was also part of Walt’s original concept, but the technology wasn’t around at the time. It was around the time Magic Kingdom was being built.
Linger in the lobby. Disney Imagineering curators worked with presidential museums and libraries around the world to curate two exhibits featuring personal mementos from U.S. Presidents and First Ladies:
“Public Lives, Personal Memories” currently features pieces related to the private lives of the presidents, including items related to their hobbies, careers and family life.
“First Ladies in Focus” features three first ladies with a look at their personal lives and accomplishments.
Among the items on display are:
- Thomas Jefferson’s pocket watch, which he may have purchased in France.
- George Washington’s shoe clips
- Self-taught painter, Eisenhower’s “School Days” painting.
- A wood shelf Franklin D Roosevelt made for his mother — woodworking was a childhood hobby he returned to after
- Nixon’s Key to Disneyland. He holds the record for the most visits to the park by any U.S. president.
- Avid reader and First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Truman’s library card
You’ll also find an authentic Great Seal of the United States in the center of the lobby.
Want more?
Head to American Adventure at the America Pavilion in the World Showcase at EPCOT to experience the show featuring 35 audio-animatronics figures as they share the American story. Your guides are Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain.
Also on display here is the Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors exhibit, a collection of 60 paintings by former U.S. President George W. Bush of post 9/11 veterans.
You can also go see the new “Soarin’ Across America,” which was unveiled in honor of America’s 250th. It’s a journey through 13 iconic American landscapes, including the Grand Canyon and even a shuttle launch.
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