A Walt Disney tribute in Marceline was considered as far back as 1956. Immediately following Walt and Roy’s visit that year, the Marceline City Council voted to pursue the possibility of a Walt Disney museum. Though he accepted many awards for his work, Walt wasn’t interested in being honored with a museum during his lifetime. It was more than four decades later that the Walt Disney Hometown Museum was established.

As the last sibling, Walt’s sister Ruth Flora Disney Beecher became the keeper of the family mementos and artifacts.  It was Ruth’s intention that people better understand who her brother was through examination of these intimate letters, candid family photographs, and personal items. It was also her desire that this collection be displayed in Marceline – the one location that meant so much to Walt, the Disney family, and close friends. Over 3,000 items, donated by Ruth when she passed away in 1995 became the foundation of The Walt Disney Hometown Museum.

In 2001 the Museum was originally intended to be a 3-day experience in commemoration of what would have been Walt Disney’s 100th birthday. Once the birthday festivities ended, so would the museum.

However, those 3 days revealed the importance of the exhibits and the destination. Public interest and the love of Walt caused the museum to remain open and evolve into what it is today.

In 2021 the Walt Disney Hometown Museum celebrated its 20th year.