Original Disneyland map sells for £555,000
It was annotated by Walt Disney
Last updated 26th Jun 2017
Disneyland Park in California is one of the most famous theme parks in the world, and recently the original map designed by the park's creator was auctioned.
The map was drawn over two days by artist Herb Ryman with input from Walt Disney and was designed to help Walt secure funding for his new park. In 1953 Walt's brother Roy took the map to the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) where he met with investors after Walt's own studio refused to fund the venture!
Walt Disney with Donald Duck © PA Images
The map was given to a Disney employee, Grenade Curran, who said, "I kept it for history's sake, I kept it for Walt's artistic stake, I kept it because it was the first thing to show and display... what a theme park would look like."
Disneyland Map © PA Images
The map was sold by Van Eaton Galleries in Los Angeles who said, "After some pretty exciting bidding the map sold for $708,000, approximately £555,000 making it the most expensive Disneyland map ever sold."
Disneyland Park, California opened in 1955 and was the only Disney theme park built under the direct supervision of the animator himself. The original Disneyland Park is now just one of many Disney theme parks around the world, including DisneyWorld in Florida, DisneyLand Paris, as well as parks in Japan and two in China/Hong Kong.