The Patriotic Symbolism Of Liberty Square

Happy Birthday, America! OK, so I'm a couple days early, but what better way to celebrate than by taking a virtual tour of Liberty Square. In the midst of all of the fantastic action that exists elsewhere in Magic Kingdom, it's easy to understand why many guests rush through this area on their way to their next fast pass or dining reservation, but to rush through Liberty Square is to miss Walt Disney Imagineering at its finest.





In the "square" of Liberty Square stands a beautiful oak tree. That tree once stood about 6 miles from Magic Kingdom and represented one of the largest and most complicated tree relocation efforts in history at the time of the move. Imagineer Bill Evans had an idea to attach the crane to two steel rods inserted through the trunk of the tree. While this idea got the tree from point A to point B, the tree suffered a number of maladies and was eventually filled with concrete to solidify the trunk. A second tree was grafted to the first to allow for a fuller Liberty Tree. The 13 lanterns that adorn the tree represent the 13 colonies.


Disney's Beautiful Liberty Tree
Liberty Tree Plaque


Also in the Square stands an exact replica of the Liberty Bell. It was cast from the same mold as the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and it was the last bell ever cast from that mold. While the bell was being removed, the mold cracked, rendering it useless.


Replica Liberty Bell


If you turn your eyes to the ground, you'll notice the irregular color patterns in the pavement. Some of the pavement is painted a rusty red color and some is painted a stony brown. Look long enough and you may notice that the brown pavement seems to create a path. That's not just any path. It's meant to represent the open sewer system that would have run through Liberty Square if it was a real Revolutionary town. You might also note that there is not a single restroom in Liberty Square. The closest one is inside Columbia Harbor House, but that section of the restaurant is technically in Fantasyland.


Charming American Colonial Buildings
A Dark Path Through Town
Don't Quite Want To Walk There Anymore, Do you?


Cast your eyes to the windows between Columbia Harbour House and the Hall of Presidents and you'll see some items adorning the windows. A set of two lanterns gives a nod to The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. In another window, take note of the shotgun. This was placed as a sign to the neighbors that the man of the house had returned from war and was now able to accept responsibility for guarding his home and his family once again. You'll also notice that the shutters tilt slightly due to the authentic "leather" straps that hold them in place.


Two If By Sea
Rifle Shows The Man of The House Is Home From War


The dates on the buildings are significant, too. Note the address of the Hall of Presidents, 1787, the year that the Constitution of the United States was written. The addresses on the other buildings indicate what year the style of architecture was the most popular in America.


The Hall of Presidents


So the next time you're strolling through Liberty Square, take a few moments to appreciate all of the little details. And point them out to your friends and family! What is your favorite Liberty Square detail?

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A big thanks goes out to Guest Author Holly L. for sharing a little bit of her time in Walt Disney World with us. If you'd like to read more about Holly's trip, you can find her sharing her adventures on our member forum.