For nearly a century, The Walt Disney Company has created timeless family entertainment that has touched the hearts of generations the world over, encouraging us all to smile, sing, and even shed a tear. This tale began in 1923, when Walt Disney arrived in Hollywood. Over the next four decades, this one-of-a-kind storyteller introduced the world to unforgettable characters, created enchanting tales both old and new, and reimagined outdoor amusements into the realm of fully immersive themed entertainment.
Almost 50 years after the Walt Disney studio created a mouse named Mickey, Walt’s brother Roy O. Disney established the Walt Disney Archives at the company’s headquarters in Burbank, California. Its mission—to collect, preserve, and make available for research the history of Walt Disney and the company he founded, so that it can continue to inspire artists, audiences, dreamers, and doers of all ages. With more than 13,000 boxes of documents and merchandise items, a library of over 20 million photographs, more than 12,000 catalogued books, and several thousand historic props and costume pieces—from the first Mickey Mouse Club series to the latest feature films and Disney theme park attractions—the Walt Disney Archives documents Disney history as it happens. While not open to the public, Disney cast members, employees, Imagineers, and outside researchers working on official projects can visit the Archives to study and understand the past to help them create the Disney magic of today—and tomorrow!
This exhibition gives visitors a chance to get a glimpse into Disney’s storied past as they walk through a special recreation of the Archives, including a dazzling display of more than 450 historical objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the department, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit will be on display at the Graceland Exhibition Center in Memphis, Tennessee, from July 23, 2021, through January 2, 2022.
