Most people do not realize that the original vision of Walt Disney World included a plan for an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (E.P.C.O.T.), known today as Epcot.

E.P.C.O.T. was Walt Disney’s one of a kind project composed of several elements which included a prototype community, an industrial park, an airport of the future, a Disneyland type theme park, transportation systems, and much much more.

All these elements were imagined by Walt Disney and his staff with new and advanced designs and technologies. The project was conceived between 1962 and 1966 and even if it did survive a couple of years it was stopped in the mid 70’s and never developed. Some elements did survive in the Walt Disney World resort as we know it today, but so much more was planned. Unfortunately, the project lost it’s main energy: Walt.  Walt Disney died just two weeks after filming the “E.P.C.O.T. film” in 1966, a promotional film created for the media and investors.  The film is a great Disney landmark since it’s the last movie of Walt Disney alive and since it’s content is Walt Disney’s last and unbuilt dream … E.P.C.O.T.

Check out the website and watch the film.  Walt Disney was very focused on transportation and how to move people and goods around.  If you are into urban planning and design or transportation, this piece of history will be very interesting to you!  Click below to check it out.

Almost looks like a GIS map!

Can you identify the book from its map?  Click the map below and try the quiz!

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For centuries, “California, here I come!” has been a popular rallying cry for fortune seekers setting course for the Golden State. This collection from the California State Library brings together a dozen travel brochures from 1870 to 1940 that document this most alluring state. Check out “Los Angeles To-Day”, which was originally published in 1924 to promote all aspects of SoCal.

After researchers discovered that things got quieter whenever nearby farmers plowed their fields by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a new kind of park was designed to help with the airport noise.