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As Disneyland
grew and with the development of Audio-Animatronic technology,
Walt was convinced
that Abraham Lincoln and a "hall
of presidents" should be created.
In 1963, while showing this greatexperiment to Robert Moses who
was President of the New York World's Fair the idea quickly gained
momentum when Mr. Moses was convinced the World's Fair could not
take place without a hall of presidents. While an entire room
full of presidents seemed a daunting task, bringing Abraham Lincoln
to the World's Fair was achievable. And with the support of the
people of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln was indeed at the world's
fair. Then in 1965, after the World's Fair closed, Great
Moments With Mr. Lincoln came to
Main Street USA
in Disneyland
where it would become a landmark in it's home at the Opera
House.
 Through
the years Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
has undergone several upgrades. The most recent one transported
guests to Matthew Brady's photography shop as a young private
during the Civil War. After some interesting audio effects, a
haircut, and having Private Cunningham's photo taken, the scene
moves to the White House. Guests listen as Mr. Brady takes Abraham
Lincoln's picture while Abraham Lincoln insists that Gettysburg
is a chance to tell what the nation "we are fighting for".
After meeting the President, the scene moves to a battlefield
with Private Cunningham The sights and sounds of a battle are
loud and bright as Cunningham is wounded, leading to the second
meeting with President Lincoln while in the hospital. After a
passionate plea by Lincoln for Cunningham to live, time jumps
forward to Gettysburg where Guests see Abraham Lincoln deliver
the following....
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated
to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war,
testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so
dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field
of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field,
as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that
we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate–we
can not consecrate–we can not hallow–this ground. The
 brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it,
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little
note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget
what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated
here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus
far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated
to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored
dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave
the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve
that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation,
under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government
of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the earth."
Yesterday, February 21, 2005
was the final day to seeGreat Moments
With Mr. Lincoln. It is being removed from it's home of
almost 40 years as a part of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland
celebration. In it's place will be a tribute to the 50 years of
Disneyland and the man who created
it, Walt Disney. Reportedly,
Abraham Lincoln will return, to its home in the Opera House in
2 years to, continue on as part of Walt's dream. But for now we
bid a fond farewell to an attraction that has been both a part
of Walt's dream but also a part of the heart of Main
Street, Disneyland USA.
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