Disneyland in photos: A visual history of the world’s magic megalopolis

From the day it opened on 17 July 1955, Disneyland brought history and fairy tales to life

(Collection of Dave DeCaro, davelandweb.com)

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 about an hour south of Los Angeles into one of the world’s most beloved destinations.

Today, there are Disney resorts from Paris to Shanghai, but the original Disneyland in the city of Anaheim in California, which has been visited by more than 800 million people to-date, remains one of America’s most popular attractions.

From the day it opened on 17 July 1955, Disneyland brought history and fairy tales to life, the future into the present, and exciting cultures and galaxies unknown to our imaginations.

Taschen​'s Disneyland is a treasure trove of original Disney documentation and expertise revealing the fascinating tale of “the happiest place on Earth”.

You can purchase ‘Walt Disney’s Disneyland​’ here