Welcome to Disneyland A visual history of the world's megalopolis of magic

"One of these days I'm going to build an amusement park... " Walt Disney dreamed for decades about opening the ultimate entertainment venue, but it wasn't until the early 1950s that his handpicked team began to bring his vision to life. Together, artists, architects, and engineers transformed a dusty tract of orange groves into one of the world's most beloved destinations, one that every child in America begs to visit.

Today, there are Disney resorts from Paris to Shanghai, but the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, remains one of America's most popular attractions, drawing over 16 million visitors each year. From the day it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland brought history and fairy tales to life, the future into the present, and far-off cultures and even farther galaxies right before our eyes.

This bountiful visual history draws on Disney's vast archives, private collections, and the golden age of photojournalism to provide unique access to the concept, development, launch, and enjoyment of this sun-drenched oasis of fun and fantasy. Disneyland documents Walt's earliest inspirations and ideas; the park's extraordinary feats of design and engineering; its grand opening; each of its immersive "lands" from Main Street, U.S.A. to Tomorrowland; and the evolution of the park in the six decades since it opened. It is a treasure trove of Disney original documentation and expertise, with award-winning writer Chris Nichols drawing on his extensive knowledge of both Disneyland and Southern California history to reveal the fascinating tale of "the happiest place on Earth."