Walt Disney’s Chicago home was opened to the public for the first time.Photo:Screen Archives/Getty Images; John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesDisneyfans got a real treat this weekend!Walt Disney’s childhood home and birthplace in Chicago was open to the public for the first time ever on Saturday and Sunday.Disney lovers were able to check out where the animated filmmaker was born and raised as part of the Chicago Architecture Center’s free annualOpen House Chicagofestival to honor the historically significant architecture of the city.Disney’s carpenter father, Elias, purchased the land in the Hermosa neighborhood of the city on Oct. 31, 1891, and obtained a permit to construct the cottage for $800 a year later. He built the modest two-story home in 1901 from architectural plans his wife Flora drew, according to theWalt Disney Birthplace Restoration website.The Chicago home that Walt Disney was born in.John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesElias “decided to build a home and put down roots in Chicago,” because he had a “growing family," the website adds.The Disneys moved into the home upon completion in 1901 with their two sons, Herbert and Raymond, and welcomed a third son named Roy shortly after, according toOpen House Chicago.“The Disneys were ordinary people, who did extraordinary things,” Walt Disney Birthplace Project Director Rey Colón told local news outletABC 7 Chicago.Walter — to be known as Walt — was born on the second floor of the home on Dec. 5, 1901, where he grew up until the Disneys sold the property in 1906 and moved to Marceline, Missouri.“Walt Disney was an example that, you know, if you come from humble beginnings, if you work hard, you follow your dreams. You could change the world,” Colón said, per ABC 7 Chicago.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Walt Disney Birthplace Restoration website states that the city of Chicago “attempted to designate the property as a historical landmark” in 1991. However, the homeowner at that time “fought the designation and won, putting the home at risk of demolition.”Animator and Film producer, Walt Disney, 1960.Screen Archives/GettyNow, the current homeowners “are working with the City to protect the home and restore it to its 1901 state," per the website.Walt Disney founded what is now known as theWalt Disney Companywith brother Roy in 1923. He died at age 65 on Dec. 15, 1966 from lack of blood flow as a result of his lung cancer.
Walt Disney’s Chicago home was opened to the public for the first time.Photo:Screen Archives/Getty Images; John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Screen Archives/Getty Images; John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Disneyfans got a real treat this weekend!Walt Disney’s childhood home and birthplace in Chicago was open to the public for the first time ever on Saturday and Sunday.Disney lovers were able to check out where the animated filmmaker was born and raised as part of the Chicago Architecture Center’s free annualOpen House Chicagofestival to honor the historically significant architecture of the city.Disney’s carpenter father, Elias, purchased the land in the Hermosa neighborhood of the city on Oct. 31, 1891, and obtained a permit to construct the cottage for $800 a year later. He built the modest two-story home in 1901 from architectural plans his wife Flora drew, according to theWalt Disney Birthplace Restoration website.The Chicago home that Walt Disney was born in.John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesElias “decided to build a home and put down roots in Chicago,” because he had a “growing family," the website adds.The Disneys moved into the home upon completion in 1901 with their two sons, Herbert and Raymond, and welcomed a third son named Roy shortly after, according toOpen House Chicago.“The Disneys were ordinary people, who did extraordinary things,” Walt Disney Birthplace Project Director Rey Colón told local news outletABC 7 Chicago.Walter — to be known as Walt — was born on the second floor of the home on Dec. 5, 1901, where he grew up until the Disneys sold the property in 1906 and moved to Marceline, Missouri.“Walt Disney was an example that, you know, if you come from humble beginnings, if you work hard, you follow your dreams. You could change the world,” Colón said, per ABC 7 Chicago.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Walt Disney Birthplace Restoration website states that the city of Chicago “attempted to designate the property as a historical landmark” in 1991. However, the homeowner at that time “fought the designation and won, putting the home at risk of demolition.”Animator and Film producer, Walt Disney, 1960.Screen Archives/GettyNow, the current homeowners “are working with the City to protect the home and restore it to its 1901 state," per the website.Walt Disney founded what is now known as theWalt Disney Companywith brother Roy in 1923. He died at age 65 on Dec. 15, 1966 from lack of blood flow as a result of his lung cancer.
Disneyfans got a real treat this weekend!
Walt Disney’s childhood home and birthplace in Chicago was open to the public for the first time ever on Saturday and Sunday.
Disney lovers were able to check out where the animated filmmaker was born and raised as part of the Chicago Architecture Center’s free annualOpen House Chicagofestival to honor the historically significant architecture of the city.
Disney’s carpenter father, Elias, purchased the land in the Hermosa neighborhood of the city on Oct. 31, 1891, and obtained a permit to construct the cottage for $800 a year later. He built the modest two-story home in 1901 from architectural plans his wife Flora drew, according to theWalt Disney Birthplace Restoration website.
The Chicago home that Walt Disney was born in.John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
John Owens/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Elias “decided to build a home and put down roots in Chicago,” because he had a “growing family," the website adds.
The Disneys moved into the home upon completion in 1901 with their two sons, Herbert and Raymond, and welcomed a third son named Roy shortly after, according toOpen House Chicago.
“The Disneys were ordinary people, who did extraordinary things,” Walt Disney Birthplace Project Director Rey Colón told local news outletABC 7 Chicago.
Walter — to be known as Walt — was born on the second floor of the home on Dec. 5, 1901, where he grew up until the Disneys sold the property in 1906 and moved to Marceline, Missouri.
“Walt Disney was an example that, you know, if you come from humble beginnings, if you work hard, you follow your dreams. You could change the world,” Colón said, per ABC 7 Chicago.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Walt Disney Birthplace Restoration website states that the city of Chicago “attempted to designate the property as a historical landmark” in 1991. However, the homeowner at that time “fought the designation and won, putting the home at risk of demolition.”
Animator and Film producer, Walt Disney, 1960.Screen Archives/Getty
Screen Archives/Getty
Now, the current homeowners “are working with the City to protect the home and restore it to its 1901 state," per the website.
Walt Disney founded what is now known as theWalt Disney Companywith brother Roy in 1923. He died at age 65 on Dec. 15, 1966 from lack of blood flow as a result of his lung cancer.
source: people.com
