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A look at the town in Missouri that inspired Disney's Main Street USA at Disneyland

A look at how Marceline and Kansas City, Missouri, influenced Walt Disney’s future work. Plus, get a peek at the new Disney 100: The Exhibition that is open in Kansas City May 24-Nov. 30, 2024.

disney 100: the man from marceline
disney 100: the man from marceline
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A look at the town in Missouri that inspired Disney's Main Street USA at Disneyland

A look at how Marceline and Kansas City, Missouri, influenced Walt Disney’s future work. Plus, get a peek at the new Disney 100: The Exhibition that is open in Kansas City May 24-Nov. 30, 2024.

Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary with various special events, exhibits, and merchandise. The Disney 100 The Exhibition recently opened in Kansas City. The KMBC 9 News Team gives a history of Walt Disney’s connection to Kansas City in this exclusive special. Watch “Disney 100: The Man From Marceline” for new interviews with the curator of the Disney Archives in Burbank, California, a visit to the Disney 100 exhibit at Union Station and a visit to the historic Disney sites in Marceline, Missouri. Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very LocalThis news special was produced by our sister station, KMBC, in Kansas City and is available to watch for free on the Very Local app.Hosted by KMBC 9’s Kris Ketz & Laura Moritz, this half-hour special takes viewers inside the Disney 100 exhibit and to some of the historic Disney sites in Kansas City and Marceline. Walt Disney Archives, Burbank, CaliforniaKMBC 9’s Jackson Kurtz traveled to Burbank, California, to interview the director of the Walt Disney Archives, Becky Cline. The special also takes you inside Walt Disney’s office, which has been recreated from photos taken after Disney’s death. All Aboard! An Important Stop For Disney’s CareerThe Disney 100 Exhibit is set up in Kansas City’s Union Station. It is significant that the Disney 100 Exhibit is set up in a former train station. Disney Archive curator Becky Cline, notes that Disney’s career follows the Santa Fe Line that connected Kansas City to California. Walt Disney’s uncle was an engineer on the Santa Fe Railroad. Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very LocalVisit the main street that inspired the Main Street USA at DisneylandDisney modeled Main Street USA in Disneyland after the Main Street in Marceline, Missouri. KMBC 9’s special takes viewers on a tour of Marceline and some of the spots that inspired many of Disney’s future projects. Interested in learning more about Main Street USA? Check out this article from Behind The Magic for more. Disney’s Friendship with Hallmark Founder Joyce HallAnother place where you can see Disney’s influence on Kansas City is the Crown Center. The Crown Center is home to Hallmark’s offices and serves as a shopping destination in Kansas City. Joyce Hall was influenced by her friendship with Disney in the development of this property. You can read more about the Crown Center's history here. Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very LocalWhat to see in Disney’s Hometown of Marceline, MissouriMarceline, Missouri, is located two hours northeast of Kansas City. Walt Disney was born in Chicago, and the Disney family moved to a farm in Marceline in 1906 and lived there for five years before they moved to Kansas City in 1911. Much of the town today honors Disney. KMBC 9’s special, “Disney 100: The Man From Marceline,” visits The Disney Hometown Museum, which is appropriately located in the former Marceline train station. The Dreaming Tree was a source of inspiration for Walt Disney’s creativity as a child. When Walt and Roy Disney visited years later, they were delighted to see the tree was still standing. For more information about visiting Disney destinations in Marceline, Missouri:The Disney Hometown MuseumWalt Disney’s Carolwood BarnVisit the Disney 100 Exhibit in Kansas CityThis 20,000-square-foot exhibit is making stops in select cities around the world. Kansas is just one of two stops for the exhibit in the United States.Dates: May 24, 2024 - November 30, 2024 Location: Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USATickets: Adult - $25, Child - $20, Senior (55+) - $22.50. Website: Disney 100: The Exhibition - Kansas CityAre you a fan of theme parks? Check out some of these shows and specials you can stream for FREE on Very Local! Iconic Eats has several episodes about the best treats at Disney and Universal Studios.The Roller Coaster Wars that Birthed a Beast is a documentary about the story of Kings Island: how its thrilling – and sometimes nail-biting – history spawned one of America’s greatest amusement parks.What is Very Local? Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news & weather, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news and weather team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond.Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.

Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary with various special events, exhibits, and merchandise. The Disney 100 The Exhibition recently opened in Kansas City.

The KMBC 9 News Team gives a history of Walt Disney’s connection to Kansas City in this exclusive special. Watch “Disney 100: The Man From Marceline” for new interviews with the curator of the Disney Archives in Burbank, California, a visit to the Disney 100 exhibit at Union Station and a visit to the historic Disney sites in Marceline, Missouri.

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Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very Local

This news special was produced by our sister station, KMBC, in Kansas City and is available to watch for free on the Very Local app.

Hosted by KMBC 9’s Kris Ketz & Laura Moritz, this half-hour special takes viewers inside the Disney 100 exhibit and to some of the historic Disney sites in Kansas City and Marceline.

Walt Disney Archives, Burbank, California

KMBC 9’s Jackson Kurtz traveled to Burbank, California, to interview the director of the Walt Disney Archives, Becky Cline. The special also takes you inside Walt Disney’s office, which has been recreated from photos taken after Disney’s death.

All Aboard! An Important Stop For Disney’s Career

The Disney 100 Exhibit is set up in Kansas City’s Union Station. It is significant that the Disney 100 Exhibit is set up in a former train station. Disney Archive curator Becky Cline, notes that Disney’s career follows the Santa Fe Line that connected Kansas City to California. Walt Disney’s uncle was an engineer on the Santa Fe Railroad.

Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very Local

Visit the main street that inspired the Main Street USA at Disneyland

Disney modeled Main Street USA in Disneyland after the Main Street in Marceline, Missouri. KMBC 9’s special takes viewers on a tour of Marceline and some of the spots that inspired many of Disney’s future projects. Interested in learning more about Main Street USA? Check out this article from Behind The Magic for more.

Disney’s Friendship with Hallmark Founder Joyce Hall

Another place where you can see Disney’s influence on Kansas City is the Crown Center. The Crown Center is home to Hallmark’s offices and serves as a shopping destination in Kansas City. Joyce Hall was influenced by her friendship with Disney in the development of this property. You can read more about the Crown Center's history here.

Stream Disney 100: The Man from Marceline for FREE on Very Local

What to see in Disney’s Hometown of Marceline, Missouri

Marceline, Missouri, is located two hours northeast of Kansas City. Walt Disney was born in Chicago, and the Disney family moved to a farm in Marceline in 1906 and lived there for five years before they moved to Kansas City in 1911. Much of the town today honors Disney. KMBC 9’s special, “Disney 100: The Man From Marceline,” visits The Disney Hometown Museum, which is appropriately located in the former Marceline train station.

The Dreaming Tree was a source of inspiration for Walt Disney’s creativity as a child. When Walt and Roy Disney visited years later, they were delighted to see the tree was still standing.

For more information about visiting Disney destinations in Marceline, Missouri:

Visit the Disney 100 Exhibit in Kansas City

This 20,000-square-foot exhibit is making stops in select cities around the world. Kansas is just one of two stops for the exhibit in the United States.

  • Dates: May 24, 2024 - November 30, 2024
  • Location: Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
  • Tickets: Adult - $25, Child - $20, Senior (55+) - $22.50.
  • Website: Disney 100: The Exhibition - Kansas City

Are you a fan of theme parks?

Check out some of these shows and specials you can stream for FREE on Very Local!

  • Iconic Eats has several episodes about the best treats at Disney and Universal Studios.
  • The Roller Coaster Wars that Birthed a Beast is a documentary about the story of Kings Island: how its thrilling – and sometimes nail-biting – history spawned one of America’s greatest amusement parks.

What is Very Local?

Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news & weather, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news and weather team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond.

Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.