When tourists stroll up and down Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A., they can’t help but feel right at home as they are surrounded in the nostalgic, small town atmosphere. For Fort Collins residents who may be visiting, this feeling rings even more true…and for good reason. Their hometown was part of the inspiration behind the creation of this iconic theme park street.
Harper Goff, who became a Hollywood art director, was born in Fort Collins in 1911 and lived there until 1920 when his family moved to California. He used his childhood memories of buildings in Old Town Fort Collins when sketching up plans for Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland.
A collaboration of childhood memories create a small town turn-of-the-century street.
In the 1950s Goff was working closely with Walt Disney to create Main Street U.S.A. for Disneyland. The two of them got together and reminisced the towns they lived in during their younger years. Touches of Disney's hometown of Marceline, MO (where he lived for his first five years) can also be seen throughout this street.
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A hometown visit brings about specific similarities.
In order to refresh his memory, Goff returned to Fort Collins during that time (early 1950s) and took pictures of the buildings of his youth. He used these as models for his drawings, which he then shared with Disney.
Several old Fort Collins buildings have specifically been considered inspiration for Goff's contribution including the Old Firehouse building, the former Linden Hotel, the Union Pacific Railroad Station and other storefronts along the Avery and Miller blocks.
Fort Collins architecture sets the tone for this well-traveled street within Disneyland.
With their archways and towers, the Victorian style structures and two story buildings along Main Street U.S.A. reflect the architecture found in both Fort Collins and Disney's Missouri hometown.
Harper Goff was well known for more than his creative contribution to Disneyland, he was also behind the artistic direction of the set of "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" and the creation of the Nautilus Submarine filmed in "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea."
This unique connection between the historic storefronts found in Fort Collins and one of the happiest main streets on Earth is something locals often share with pride. Their picturesque hometown has made a lasting mark on the unforgettable experience many visitors will have at Disneyland.
Have you observed these similarities? Please share in the comments below.
Do you love delving into the history of the Denver area? Then you will want to check out some of Denver’s oldest pictures.
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