<strong>Welcome to Disneyland: </strong>Architectural historian and theme park fan Chris Nichols has written about Disneyland's origin story in new his new book "Walt Disney's Disneyland." <em>Pictured here: The original Disneyland sign on Harbor Boulevard, which greeted guests from 1958 to 1989</em>
Welcome to Disneyland: Architectural historian and theme park fan Chris Nichols has written about Disneyland's origin story in new his new book "Walt Disney's Disneyland." Pictured here: The original Disneyland sign on Harbor Boulevard, which greeted guests from 1958 to 1989
Courtesy Collection of Dave DeCaro, davelandweb.com
<strong>Expert attraction: </strong>Nichols book describes how the park came together thanks to an array of experts. "We had this great confluence of people in the aerospace industry that knew how to build things and people in the movie industry that knew how to tell stories," Nichols tells CNN Travel. <em>Pictured here: The Rainbow Ridge mining town. </em>
Expert attraction: Nichols book describes how the park came together thanks to an array of experts. "We had this great confluence of people in the aerospace industry that knew how to build things and people in the movie industry that knew how to tell stories," Nichols tells CNN Travel. Pictured here: The Rainbow Ridge mining town.
Courtesy Collection of Dave DeCaro, davelandweb.com
<strong>Records and archives:</strong> The Disney company offered Nichols access to the Disney records and Nichols dived head first into the scrapbooks and photo stories.<em> Pictured here: Monstro the Whale, from Pinocchio, who guarded the entrance to the Storybook Land Canal Boats, 1956.</em>
Records and archives: The Disney company offered Nichols access to the Disney records and Nichols dived head first into the scrapbooks and photo stories. Pictured here: Monstro the Whale, from Pinocchio, who guarded the entrance to the Storybook Land Canal Boats, 1956.
Courtesy 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc
<strong>Historic perspective:</strong> Nichols was also able to chat to original "Imagineer" Bob Gerr. "He was working on [Disneyland] when it was in development now and that's astounding to have a perspective of someone that saw it go from an idea to a reality," says Nichols.<em> Pictured here: Walt Disney describing his park on television in 1954.</em>
Historic perspective: Nichols was also able to chat to original "Imagineer" Bob Gerr. "He was working on [Disneyland] when it was in development now and that's astounding to have a perspective of someone that saw it go from an idea to a reality," says Nichols. Pictured here: Walt Disney describing his park on television in 1954.
Courtesy 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc
<strong>Insider look</strong>: The book includes behind-the-scenes information on how the park went from sketches to working attractions.<em> Pictured here: the Rocket to the Moon and Astro-Jets attractions existed 14 years before the moon landing.</em>
Insider look: The book includes behind-the-scenes information on how the park went from sketches to working attractions. Pictured here: the Rocket to the Moon and Astro-Jets attractions existed 14 years before the moon landing.
Courtesy Disney
<strong>Incredible insight:</strong> Nichols also spoke to to Richard Sherman, the musical genius who, along with his brother Robert B. Sherman, soundtracked "Mary Poppins" and other Disney hits. <em>Pictured here: Sleeping Beauty's Castle an iconic Disney landmark</em><em>. </em>
Incredible insight: Nichols also spoke to to Richard Sherman, the musical genius who, along with his brother Robert B. Sherman, soundtracked "Mary Poppins" and other Disney hits. Pictured here: Sleeping Beauty's Castle an iconic Disney landmark.
Courtesy Getty Images/AllanGrant/The LIFE Picture Collection
<strong>New-found appreciation</strong>: Nichols thinks the book will give readers a new-found appreciation for the artistry behind Disneyland.<em> Pictured here: one of the original members of the WED Model Shop, Harriet Burns constructing the scale models for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction. </em>
New-found appreciation: Nichols thinks the book will give readers a new-found appreciation for the artistry behind Disneyland. Pictured here: one of the original members of the WED Model Shop, Harriet Burns constructing the scale models for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction.
Courtesy Jordan Reichek Collection/Van Eaton Galleries
<strong>Labor of love: </strong>Nichols says researching and writing the book was a true labor of love. "I just wanted to go back again and again, it was like Christmas every day going through these collections and I just loved it. I'm hungry for it again, I want to go, I want to keep digging," he says. <em>Pictured here: Nichols book for Taschen: "</em><a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taschen.com%2Fpages%2Fen%2Fcatalogue%2Fpopculture%2Fall%2F01172%2Ffacts.walt_disneys_disneyland.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Walt Disney's Disneyland." </em></a>
Labor of love: Nichols says researching and writing the book was a true labor of love. "I just wanted to go back again and again, it was like Christmas every day going through these collections and I just loved it. I'm hungry for it again, I want to go, I want to keep digging," he says. Pictured here: Nichols book for Taschen: "Walt Disney's Disneyland."
Courtesy Taschen