Edison Square, Unbuilt at Disneyland
Edison Square was a planned land at Disneyland that was never built. The area was intended to be a turn-of-the-century city block inspired by the inventions and innovations of Thomas Edison, the famed inventor and businessman. Some of it's planning was designed to mesh well with the then-planned Liberty Street, which turned into Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. Although the land was never completed, it remains an interesting part of Disneyland history and a fascinating look at what could have been.
The concept for Edison Square was first introduced in the 1950s, shortly after Disneyland opened. The land was designed to showcase the technological advancements of the early 20th century, with attractions and experiences centered around the inventions of Thomas Edison. The area was meant to be located between Main Street USA and Fantasyland, and would have featured a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions.
Some of the proposed attractions for Edison Square included an interactive exhibit on electricity, a ride through Edison's workshop, and a restaurant inspired by Edison's love of food and entertaining. The land was also intended to feature an animatronic show called "The Hall of Electrical Wonders," which would have showcased the various electrical inventions of the time.
Despite these ambitious plans, Edison Square was never built. The reasons for its cancellation are not entirely clear, although it is believed that budget constraints and the difficulty of incorporating Edison's inventions into a theme park setting played a role.
Today, Edison Square remains a fascinating piece of Disneyland history and a reminder of the park's early days. While visitors may never be able to explore the attractions and experiences that were planned for the area, they can still imagine what could have been and appreciate the vision and creativity that went into its design. In a way, the ideas of celebrating both American History were able to be reused and adapted, turning into portions of the original Epcot park, and the Carousel of Progress.
