Both Walt Disney and Richard Nixon shared a deep admiration and appreciation for Illinois' Abraham Lincoln, as his humble beginnings and his rise to the Presidency in adversity made for great examples of American individualism and perseverance.   

 

In 1962, the Walt Disney Studios designed an attraction for the State of Illinois Pavilion at the upcoming 1964-65 New York World's Fair.  The theme park designers at Walt Disney Imagineering used the latest technology in engineering and model-making to build a life-sized animated, talking reproduction of Abraham Lincoln.  This dramatic production was entitled, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. 

 

To honor Presidents' Day we bring to our visitors unique items from the collections of Walt Disney Imagineering which include original artwork from Walt Disney Studios Imagineers seen in the film that was shown before experiencing the attraction.  Items from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library include a letter from Walt Disney to Vice President Nixon and the Key to Disneyland received by Vice President Nixon at the park's opening in 1955.