The Dreaming Tree

This large cottonwood tree stands where Walt and Ruth played and waded in the spring at its base. As a boy, Walt Disney daydreamed under the giant cottonwood and observed the nature around him, including bugs, animals, birds, and the sound of the wind. He later called these adventures "belly botany" and drew on those childhood memories in his "Mickey Mouse" and "Silly Symphony" cartoons. He apparently never outgrew his need for inspiration from this favorite spot, and on his trips back to Marceline he always set aside time to reflect beneath his dreaming tree. The tree is registered as a historic tree by American Forest.

Missouri · United States