Today's adventure through Yesterland takes us back to the time of Disneyland's grand opening in 1955. We start with Walt's Main Street U.S.A. While original plans for Disneyland's entrance land envisioned it purely as a passageway of shops and restaurants, with minimal attractions compared to other lands, Walt decided to expand on this foundation.

This was the genesis of two extension sub-areas, Chinatown and Little Mexico. Main Street is a celebration of classic Americana. This pair of ethnic neighborhoods explores how America is more than a nostalgic rural town. It is a nation of immigrants. Walt was adamant that Disneyland be a beacon of joy for all who visited, including the many international communities of Southern California. These lands would very specifically be their lands.

Guests arriving on July 17th, 1955, could visit the neighborhoods of Chinatown and Little Mexico, and experience the culture of China and Mexico as expressed in food, decoration, music, shopping, and more. Each area appears as an ethnic neighborhood which could believably share a town with Main Street.

Unique anchor attractions enticed guests. From Little Mexico's early Circarama film to Chinatown's "Tunnel of Love" style boat ride, anticipating the technology of "it's a small world," Main Street's headlining attractions showed Disneyland's early promise.

Learn more about Chinatown

Learn more about Little Mexico