A Conversation Across Disney’s Most Historic Locations
During the D23 Expo 2019, the Archives Stage became a celebration of legacy, storytelling, and place in a unique panel titled “Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation.” The session brought together some of the most passionate caretakers of Walt Disney’s real-world history—those preserving the spaces and stories that shaped his life and legacy.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Walt Visiting Marceline
The panel was hosted by Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, who guided the conversation with warmth and enthusiasm.
Representing Walt’s Legacy
The panel included insightful presentations from four key institutions dedicated to preserving the life and legacy of Walt Disney:
The Walt Disney Hometown Museum (Marceline, Missouri) – Located in Walt’s boyhood town, the museum preserves artifacts and memories from the early days that inspired Main Street, U.S.A.
The Walt Disney Family Museum (San Francisco, California) – Founded by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, this museum chronicles Walt’s life with personal artifacts, interviews, and innovations.
The Walt Disney Birthplace (Chicago, Illinois) – Ongoing efforts are restoring the modest home where Walt was born in 1901.
The Carolwood Foundation – Dedicated to preserving Walt’s love of trains and his Carolwood Pacific Railroad, including the iconic barn from his backyard.
Each organization gave a heartfelt presentation filled with historic photographs, restoration updates, and stories only they could tell—followed by a lively Q&A session where attendees asked questions about preserving the physical touchpoints of Walt’s legacy.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt’s Carolwood Pacific in his back yard
Mickey Mouse Moderates History
Bret Iwan’s presence brought a magical touch to the conversation. As the voice of Mickey Mouse, his connection to Walt’s original creation made the panel especially poignant. His genuine curiosity and respect for each organization made for a smooth, insightful experience. An experience that celebrated the people and places who make it their mission to ensure Walt Disney’s story lives on.
Images from the presentation
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt’s Connection to Train influenced just about everything he did
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt’s Carolwood Pacific in his back yard
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt’s Carolwood Pacific in his back yard – The center of his railroad was the red barn
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Barn in the backyard was a workshop and dreaming place
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Some would say the dream of Disneyland started with his backyard railroad and dreaming barn
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Barn was moved and is now the Carolwood Foundation Museum
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Diane Disney Miller dedicated the Bard in 1999
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts love of trains was a never-ending source of inspiration
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Inside the Bar are artifacts and displays of items used by Walt
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Carolwood Foundation also restored the Santa fe and Disneyland combination car used at Disney land from 1955-1974, it was restored in 2009.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Carolwood Foundation is currently restoring the last original engine and cars from The Disneyland attraction Mine Traine trhough natures wonderland.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Carolwood Foundation recently added a working model of The Disneyland attraction Mine Traine through nature’s wonderland.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Carolwood Foundation has been visited by many Disney legends and special guests.
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Carolwood Foundation Celebrating 20 Years in 2019
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The restoration began December 5, 2013
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The floor plan from 1893 was used
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The hose returned to its original state in 2016
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The Street Name was changed to Disney Family Avenue
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The restoration continues, the interior will take on a look similar to Carousel of progress
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walts Disney Birthplace and Museum – The restoration continues www.waltdsineybirthplace.org for more information
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum is in San Francisco with connections to the city
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – Diane Disney Miller
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – Some of the Displays
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – earliest known drawings of Mickey Mouse
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – The Largest Collection of Oscar outside of Hollywood, including the Snow White Oscar
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – The “Notebook” with details from behind the scenes of early Disney works
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – A model of “Disneyland of Walts Imagination”
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum – Mickey Mouse Expedition currently on display at the museum
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – The Disney Family Museum
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum Marceline
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum Marceline
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Walt Visiting Marceline
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Walt’s quote regarding Marceline, 1938
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Where is Marceline?
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Walt’s Wishing Tree on the Disney Farm
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – The Disney Barn was recreated using the original plans on the Disney Farm
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – You can leave a signature inside the Disney Barn (It was rebuilt in 2001, Walts 100th birthday)
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Town Square and Train Station, MArceline
Making Walls Talk: Disney Historical Sites and Museums in Conversation – D23 Expo 2019 – Walt Disney home Town Museum – Walt in 1956, standing in front of the future site of the Museum
Press images from the Panel
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) DOUG MARSH, BRENT YOUNG, KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE, PETER WHITEHEAD, BRET IWAN
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) DOUG MARSH, BRENT YOUNG, KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE, PETER WHITEHEAD, BRET IWAN
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) DOUG MARSH
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) BRENT YOUNG
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) BRENT YOUNG
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) PETER WHITEHEAD
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) DOUG MARSH, BRENT YOUNG, KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE, PETER WHITEHEAD, BRET IWAN
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA) DOUG MARSH, BRENT YOUNG, KIRSTEN KOMOROSKE, PETER WHITEHEAD, BRET IWAN
