Finding Snow White at Walt Disney's Barn

It took me a long time, but I finally made the trip to Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California to see Walt Disney's Barn.  I was surprised to find so many things inside the barn, there is a lot to look at, and even two Snow White trinkets in the barn itself, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Here is a photo tour of my day at the barn:

Be on the lookout for the sign. They are open the third Sunday of the month.

No cost, but they encourage donations

The barn is located at the back of the Los Angeles Live Steamers area.  You'll see people riding around during your visit.

You cross the tracks a few times to get into the beautiful park-like area.

There is the barn and the combine that they are restoring.

Gift Shop

Flag pole honoring Michale and Sharon Broggie

Even the trash cans look like ones you would find in the theme parks.

Photo of it's original location at Walt Disney's home

They had lots of things lying around the barn to look at. LOTS of things.

That sink has seen lots of work!

One of Walt's Hats

Walt Disney's railroad pass

Snow White sighting one - Happy on brochure for Disneyland

Firehouse five helmet

Ollie Johnston's Tool Box

Disney Legends Award

Roger Broggie's Tool Box

Quite the good crowd that day

 

A model that represents Walt's Live Steam Engine

Track plan for the Carolwood estate

Walt used a broom stick to make a place for his work overalls

Snow White sighting number two - on a toy train

Walt's Workbench

 

Walt used this phone to communicate between the barn and main house

They are working on restoring this combine from Disneyland

This was part of Ollie Johnson's garden layout

Side of the barn

other side

Weather vain

The back of the barn.

If your in the Los Angeles area on the third Sunday of the month, stop and check out Walt's Barn.  It's an interesting afternoon and there are often Disney legends that stop by.  The gift shop sells quite a few autographed books too.

Marceline

I had the opportunity to be out in Missouri for a weekend (yes, it is a very long trip to make for a weekend).  So naturally, I made it a priority to get to Marceline.  I went the weekend after the D23 Expo so I had just talked with the people who had a booth there about my visit. 

The museum is in a train station.  It's a great old building with a beautiful courtyard.  I was very impressed.  I had worn my D23 Disney Geek shirt, so Kaye remembered me from talking at the Expo.  They gave us a tour of the main room with information about each of Walt Disney's trips back to his boyhood hometown.  The most interesting part for me was listening to the stories. 
For example: Marceline is a small town and when they decided to name the new pool after Walt, they weren't really expecting him to accept.  When he did (with his wife and brother and his wife), the town went into a panic as to where to house him.  So, they asked the one family with air conditioning to house the Disneys.  They said yes and preparations went on a planned.  But as the date got closer, the wife grew more nervous.  She began to panic: her house wasn't fit to entertain!  Her furniture wasn't fancy enough for someone as important as the Disneys!  The town had a solution though, they moved all of the families future out and everyone brought their best pieces to use instead.
The best of part of the story was that it was told by the wife - she was our tour guide.  And her daughter was in several of the photographs and is now the head of the museum.  It was nice to hear about the people in the pictures, the small town preparing for a big event.
The museum is made up of largely Ruth (Walt's sister) donations.  It is fun to read the letters Walt and Roy wrote their sister.  The letters contain updates on studio projects and details about Disneyland.  The Walt Disney Hometown Museum really is a fun place to visit!

We also went out the the dreaming tree and to the theatre where two Disney premiers have been held.  The owner of the theatre had a short clip from the Lady and the Tramp DVD to show us.  (the bonus features about Marceline).  We also mailed postcards from the Walt Disney Post Office - sadly, the post office was closed so we didn't get the postmark - it came to us from Kansas City.
Overall, we had a great time.  The people were so kind and I really enjoyed talking to everyone!