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) (July 17, 1955—Present) BACKSTORY: Required WED designers to conduct extensive research to recreate a steam powered riverboat from 50 years before. Decks assembled at the Burbank Studios while the 105' hull was constructed at Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, CA (where the Sailing Ship Columbia’s hull was also built). When the hull & decks were put together at Disneyland they fit perfectly.
Joe Fowler, Disneyland’s construction supervisor and former navy admiral, insisted on creating a drydock for the ship along the Rivers of America. Walt, dismayed at how much land was taken up by the massive excavation, referred to the drydock as "Joe’s Ditch" and then “Fowler’s Harbor.” Disney funded its construction out of his own pocket when corporate funds fell short. On the first “fill-the-river” day, the water pumped into the Rivers of America soaked through the riverbed. Fowler found a supply of clay to replace the soil stabilizer used to line the river, and the second “fill-the-river” day was successful.
The maiden voyage was July 13, four days before the park officially opened, for a private party celebrating Walt & Lillian’s 30th anniversary. Before the party, as Fowler was checking to make sure everything would be ready for the 300 invited guests, he found Lillian sweeping the decks of debris and joined in.Irene Dunne, star of 1936’s “Showboat,” had trouble breaking a bottle of water (from many major American rivers) across the vessel’s bow for its christening on Dateline Disney. During the riverboat’s first official voyage, when the crowd moved to one side of the boat to view passing scenes, the boat would list from the side and water poured over the deck, as no one had determined the Mark Twain's maximum safe passenger capacity. This caused it to almost capsize a few days later when ride operators continued to wave more than 500 guests on board until the deck neared the water line. The ship came loose from its track and stuck in the muddy banks. The park quickly established a maximum capacity of 300, still in effect today. During its first few years of operation, passengers could buy a non-alcoholic mint julep or listen to card & checker players re-enact era dialogue. Occasionally the Disneyland band would play music on the lower deck bow. Underwent a major refurbishment Spring of 1995, during which all the decks and the boiler were replaced. When the Rivers of America was drained in 2002, the boat was noted to have considerable hull damage. It underwent a refurbishment in 2004 to repair the hull & replace the keel. For the park’s 2005 50th Anniversary a more colorful paint was applied. In Spring, 2007, the Mark Twain underwent an extensive refurbishment. Cast members have dubbed the Mark Twain “The Floating Breakroom” (due to how little has to be done to pilot it) and “The Floating Birthday Cake” (because of its color and ornamentation). Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. |
The Mark Twain, 1955 |
The Mark Twain, 1956 |
) March 1956 |
) March 1956 |
) March 24, 1956 |
) March 24, 1956 |
) Chicken Plantation, April 1956 |
) August 1956 |
) August 1956 |
) August 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
) 1956 |
The Mark Twain, 1957 |
) 1957 |
) June 1957 |
) June 1957 |
) July 1957 |
) Sept. 1957 |
) Oct. 5, 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) 1957 |
) Chicken Plantation, 1957/58 |
The Mark Twain, 1958–1959 |
The Mark Twain, 1950’s |
The Mark Twain, 1960’s |
Introduction To A Grizzled Ol' Disneyland Fan From Way, Way Back |
 Taint many who love the history of Walt Disney’s Disneyland as much as Wild Ol’ Dan Blasius. He’s just wandered into Daveland, unsaddled his horse, rolled out his bedroll, and sat down by the campfire to have a cup of coffee. Wild Ol’ Dan is also the author of the first Hopalong Cassidy novel to be published in well over 50 years: “HOPALONG CASSIDY RIDES AGAIN .” So, as you might figure, we've asked him to put a few thoughts together on Frontierland at Disneyland. Well, turns out he has more than a few thoughts on that subject…today he’s boardin’ the Ol’ Mark Twain Steamboat for a trip down the Rivers of America.Taint nuthin’ more beautiful than the Ol’ Mark Twain comin’ round the riverbend… Howdy Pards—Yep, it's true, they gathered water from many different rivers all across the country, they did. Then they put those waters in a bottle and handed that bottle to movie star Irene Dunne back on Sunday afternoon, July 17th, 1955. Then, with the whole country watchin’ on live nation-wide TV, she officially christened that genuine, authentic, real, honest-to-gosh steam-powered sternwheeler...“The Mark Twain.” And, it's a fact that since that historic day back in 1955, more than a half century ago now, the Ol' Mark Twain has carried more passengers than any other steamboat in the history of the world! Bar none. Taint nuthin' more beautiful than the Ol' Mark Twain coming round the riverbend at Disneyland... nuthin' I can think of anyways... Reckon you could say that sternwheeler represents the true spirit and history of the rivers of this great country of ours...Did you know that the Mark Twain was the very first steamboat built in well over 50 years when they opened Disneyland? It was. You can actually feel the magic of travelin’ back in time along the Mighty Mississippi when you board that big, beautiful sternwheeler. Memories of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and even old New Orleans...come back to ya’. There is just no doubt; the Mark Twain is the shinin’ jewel of Frontierland and all of Disneyland, and a real symbol of those exciting days of yesteryear along the rivers of our great country. Back in the early days of Disneyland you could clearly see that big, beautiful steamboat while standing in the hub and lookin’ through the stockade entrance to Frontierland...twernt no question you were headed for the days of the wild frontier. Yessirreebob! Reckon that riverboat was kinda like a magnet to me and millions of others. Truth is, Walt planned it that way. Yep. He always said you had to have a landmark in the distance, a "wienie" he called it, that folks would want to walk towards. So, course, the distant Castle was that landmark drawin' folks down Main Street U.S.A. Once they reached the hub, if they looked right they would see, in the distance, the MOONLINER pointed towards the sky...a clear symbol of the world of Tomorrow. Straight ahead through the castle they could see the Carrousel in a world of fun and fantasy. And, if they looked West...through that stockade...there it was, yessir that incredibly beautiful riverboat, waiting to take take ya into the past on a magical journey down the river. Now every kid who ever boarded the ol' Mark Twain wanted to head for the very top deck, of course. Yep, you could see everything from way up there...sometimes the Disneyland band would come on board and play tunes all the way down the river! But it was always a voyage of discovery...and, with Indian Villages and wildlife and river pirate hideouts, scattered all over the place, it was easy to imagine yourself travelin' a hundred or more years back in time. Lots of grown folks these days remember fondly when their Moms and Dads, Grampas and Grammas first took 'em on that steamboat long, long years ago. A good many folks remember watchin' the ducks along the river...and really enjoyin' the gentle journey back in time... Yep a lotta warm and wonderful memories have been made on the ol' Mark Twain...memories that last a lifetime. There have indeed been some mighty special events on that boat over the years...like its maiden voyage to celebrate Walt and Lilly's Anniversary a few days before the park opened...or the time Louis Armstrong brought his special New Orleans Dixieland magic to the second deck back in '62. Millions upon millions of pictures have been taken of the Ol' Mark Twain as it made it's way 'round the river. As Dave says, folks sometimes think of it as a "floatin' birthday cake". I reckon you could say that boat has watched Disneyland grow up over the years... It was there back in the days when there were hardly any trees around, back when real Indians danced around their teepees along the shore, it was there when stagecoaches and covered wagons and pack mules headed off into the backcountry, it was there when that Haunted Mansion showed up and New Orleans Square and Ol' Splash Mountain...yep it's seen all of Disneyland's history and, truth is, it has been a mighty important part of that history over the years. To me, no visit to Disneyland is complete without a few relaxing minutes aboard this wonderful, genuine, authentic, real, honest-to-gosh, steam-powered sternwheeler. The pride of Disneyland...and, now, a real part of American History itself...having carried more “guests” than any other steamboat in history...yep, that's the Ol' Mark Twain, a truly wonderful part of Walt Disney's legacy, in the happiest place on earth. Adios for now. Talk to ya on’ down the trail. Wild Ol’ Dan |
The Mark Twain, 1970’s–1980’s |
) June 1970 |
) July 1970 |
) Dec. 27, 1970 |
) Feb. 1971 |
) Feb. 1971 |
) Sept. 1971 |
) Sept. 1971 |
) Sept. 1971 |
) Aug. 1974 |
) Aug. 1974 |
) Aug. 1974 |
) Jan. 1975 |
) Aug. 1976 |
) Dec. 1977 |
) Panavue Slide |
) Panavue Slide |
) Dec. 1980 |
The Mark Twain, 1990’s–2000+ |
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| ©Dave DeCaro, All Rights Reserved |
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