Disneyland Becomes a Certified Historical Landmark in California

Disneyland is literally making history!

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While there are hundreds of theme parks across the country, most, if not all, owe a lot to the original Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. What started as a simple dream from legendary storyteller, artist, and creator Walt Disney transformed into one of the world’s most cherished and celebrated theme park destinations, featuring classic and iconic dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, thrilling roller coasters like Space Mountain, and an unbeatable and immersive atmosphere. Over the last several decades, Disneyland has only gotten better, with massive expansions adding to the magic. Guests will have two rich theme park experiences here, as well as a massive district dedicated to shopping, dining, and live entertainment.

However, Disneyland may be making history, with the district being identified as an actual point of historical significance.

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According to the Orange County Register, The DisneylandForward environmental impact report has identified the potential Disneyland Park Historic District as eligible to be entered in the National Register of Historic Places. This includes the California Register of Historical Resources as well. Disneyland first opened in 1955, but it has remained just as magical and exciting all these years later. DisneylandForward is a proposal that seeks to update a decades-old plan that would allow for new theme park hotel, dining, and entertainment spaces to be created on the edges of the original Disneyland Resort.

As part of this proposal, Disneyland itself would be named a historic landmark. The 68-year-old theme park destination brings in millions upon millions of guests each and every year, with excitement only growing for the resort.

“There have been continuous changes to the park that started upon its opening,” according to a report created by the Historic Resources Group for the DisneylandForward EIR. “Disney is the steward of its history, but also responsible for sustaining the viability of the theme park and ensuring that it is maintained and updated in order to reflect current needs and expectations.”

What Does This Mean for Disneyland?

This development means that Disneyland is now required to document any substantial changes to the resort, which will be cataloged by a historian and submitted to the city of Anaheim. Across the entire Disneyland Resort lies dozens of rides, attractions, and buildings that could be considered historical landmarks. There are likely no rides more iconic than “it’s a small world” or Peter Pan’s Flight, both of which have maintained guests for decades. However, only three places have been identified as historic places within Disneyland.

These include the Main Street Railroad Depot, Hungry Bear Restaurant, and Pirates of the Caribbean. All three of these locations have been signaled as historical California locations and are eligible to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places as well. These locations were chosen to represent the first three decades of Disneyland Park.

“Over the years, many rides have come and gone in the park, but the overall design, concept, setting, feeling and historical associations have remained constant and unaltered,” according to DisneylandForward EIR.

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The California Register of Historic Places works to recognize important architectural, historical, archeological, and cultural landmarks that have an architectural, historical, and cultural significance, which in turn protect these locations. These landmarks are often associated with important people, such as Walt Disney. This news follows the confirmation that Disney would be investing over $2 billion in the DisneylandForward project over the next decade.

As we stated before, the Disneyland Resort has changed a lot in its 68 years of operation, introducing new and exciting attractions and experiences on a consistent basis. One of the resort’s latest attractions is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, an impressive trackless dark ride that was brought over from Walt Disney World.

This new attraction is located in the recently-renovated Mickey’s Toontown area of Disneyland Park, a land that provides guests with a colorful and creative backdrop to enjoy and soak in.

Have you ever been to Disneyland? What’s your favorite “classic” Disney ride or attraction?