Disneyland, a family-oriented theme park in Anaheim, Calif., opened on July 17, 1955. Disneyland was The Walt Disney Company's first theme park. This West Coast attraction celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2010.
In the early 1950s, Walt Disney dreamed of building a recreational center on 8 acres next to the Burbank, Calif., Disney studio as a retreat for his employees. That idea grew into a theme park for the general public, but the Burbank location was too small.
Disneyland placed the orange groves of Anaheim on the map by purchasing 160 acres there. Groundbreaking for his "Magic Kingdom" began on July 21, 1954. The park was slated to use 45 acres, with a construction budget of $9 million.
Walt had mortgaged everything for the project and still came up short. He had to secure loans. The final version of Disneyland contained 18 attractions. With parking facilities, the theme park covered all 160 acres with expenditures of over $17 million to complete.
The formulated grand opening was broadcast live on the ABC television network.The event was hosted by TV stars Art Linkletter and Robert Cummings, with guest celebrities such as the future president, Ronald Reagan.
Attractions such as the Matterhorn, Submarine Voyage and a Monorail were added over the years. Others are only remembered in archives, including the Aluminum Hall of Fame, Rocket to the Moon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
At the time of the grand opening, admission was $1 to enter. By December 1957, the 10 millionth guest, Leigh Woolfenden, was admitted.
