Disneyland Maps from 1958, 1961, 1962, and 1964

1958a

As the first map large-scale, poster-sized map published for sale in Disneyland park, this was used as a marketing tool to build interest in attending this new thing called a "theme park." A large number of these were sold both in the park and through a promotional offer with Sunkist Orange Juice, a sponsor in the park. It is interesting to note that Disneyland was built on what was once large groves of orange trees, so the sponsorship of Sunkist seems appropriate.

One would think that this map would be the most rare, or difficult to find, but that does not appear to be the case. The second map seems to be more rare, but that may in fact be an artificate of sellers and buyers being unable to distinquish between the 1958b and the 1958c maps.

Points of Interest

• Walt Disney had infinite confidence in his new park and unapologetically included future attractions and "lands" as if they were just around the corner. Examples of attractions that made it are: the submarine, New Orleans Square, and the Haunted Mansion. Those that did not appear, at least at Disneyland, were: Edison Square, Liberty Street, Adventures in Science, the Wax Museum, and the Thieves Market.
• Holidayland was a real bust. Not every idea that Walt Disney had was a winner. Walt was convinced that a circus attraction would be well received. Fortunately his imagineers couldn't find room for it within the park itself and it was placed outside the berm surrounding Disneyland park. Holidayland had a brief life, disappearing completely and without a trace.
• The Disneyland Hotel, although located directly across from Disneyland itself, was not owned by The Walt Disney Company. A separate company was contracted to provide this hotel and it wasn't until 1988 that Disney purchased the hotel and began the expansion that currently has three Disney owned hotels on the property.

How to Identify This Map

• The first thing to look for is the copyright date of "1958" found in the lower right-hand corner inside of the orange border.
• The second thing is the border, which on this map is orange. Note that both of these attributes are shared with the other two maps with the 1958 copyright date.
• The real tell-tale sign for this map is the existence of the Viewliner in Tomorrowland, with tracks running over and around the submarine lagoon. This is the only map in the series with the Viewliner.
• The last difference between this map and the next two is in the color of the Jungle Cruise river. In this map the river is green, whereas in the next two the river is blue.

1958b

As discussed above, the three 1958 maps are very similar. This map and the next are in fact the most difficult to differentiate. Both this map and the 1958c maps have done away with the Viewliner in Tomorrowland and replaced it with the Matterhorn Mountain (the first in Disney's mountain range found today in the park) and with the Monorail.

Points of Interest

• The Monorail, added in this map, does not make a loop toward the Disneyland Hotel. This was the first daily operational monorail in North America. Walt Disney and his imagineers had visited the monorail in Wuppertal, Germany and contracted with ALWEG, a German company to bring this "futuristic" transportation to Disneyland. Interestingly, for many years the monorail at Disneyland stood alone, since this form of transportation did not catch on. This was good news for Disney since one of the problems in Tomorrowland was that the future tended to catch up with them. Since the monorail has never become commonplace, this almost 50-year-old transportation is still "of the future."
• Most of Disney's rides are tied to other Disney property, such as movies. For example, the rides of Fantasyland tie to Disney's popular animated files such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and so forth. The Matterhorn was tied to the 1959 Disney film Third Man on the Mountain which has some what dropped off the radar since its release. The Matterhorn itself was a breakthrough in design, being the first rollercoaster to use tubular track, now the standard. This allowed the track to bend more easily allowing continuous turning and dropping, simulating a bobsled ride down a mountain.

How to Identify this Map

• As with the 1958a map, the copyright appears in the lower left hand corner and reads 1958.
• Both this map and the 1958c map show the Matterhorn and the Monorail in Tomorrowland. The Viewliner in Tomorrowland is gone, as well as the Junior Autopia, replaced by the Fantasyland Autopia.
• Another difference between the 1958b and the 1958c maps and the 1958a map is the color of the Jungle Cruise water. In both this map and the 1958c map the water is blue.
• The only difference between the 1958b and the 1958c map is that Cascade Peak is missing from this map. To see where it should be, find the Mark Twain Steamboat and look directly above it. If you do not see Cascade Peak, then you have the 1958b map. If Cascade Peak is there, then you have the 1958c map.

1958c

This map is almost identical to the previous map, the 1958b map, with the one exception listed below.

Points of Interest

Since this map and the previous one, the 1958b map, are almost identical the only point of interest may be the question why they released it at all? The addition of Cascade Peak, which isn't even accessible to guests on foot, seems a minor difference to justify releasing a new map. There are two other occasions where almost identical maps have been released: in 1964 and 1995.

How to Identify this Map

• As with the 1958a map, the copyright appears in the lower left hand corner and reads 1958.
• Both this map and the 1958b map show the Matterhorn and the Monorail in Tomorrowland. The Viewliner in Tomorrowland is gone, as well as the Junior Autopia, replaced by the Fantasyland Autopia.
• Another difference between the 1958b and the 1958c maps and the 1958a map is the color of the Jungle Cruise water. In both this map and the 1958b map the water is blue.
• The only difference between the 1958b and the 1958c map is that Cascade Peak is present in this map. To see where it should be, find the Mark Twain Steamboat and look directly above it. If you do not see Cascade Peak, then you have the 1958b map. If Cascade Peak is there, then you have the 1958c map.

1964a

There are two maps with the copyright date of 1964. Both maps are very similar, with some minor sponsorship changes.

Points of Interest

The 1964a and 1964b maps are almost identical.

How to Identify this Map

• There are two maps with the copyright date of 1964, which is found in the lower right hand corner.
• Both this map and the 1964b map have a green border and are descendents of Sam McKim's original 1958 map.
• The difference between this map and the 1964b map can be found in the border itself. In this map there are no stars in the border, whereas the 1964b map has four rows of stars within the border.

1964b

There are two maps with the copyright date of 1964. Both maps are very similar, with some minor sponsorship changes.

Points of Interest

The 1964a and 1964b maps are almost identical, except as indicated below.

How to Identify this Map

• There are two maps with the copyright date of 1964, which is found in the lower right hand corner.
• Both this map and the 1964a map have a green border and are descendents of Sam McKim's original 1958 map.
• The difference between this map and the 1964b map can be found in the border itself. In this map the green border includes four rows of small stars intersperced between the characters. The 1964a map does not have these stars.