California Visionaries Exhibition Honors Connection Between Walt Disney and Forest Lawn

Long before they reshaped the cultural landscape of Southern California, Walt Disney and Forest Lawn founder Hubert Eaton shared humble roots in Missouri and an ambitious, reimagined approach to public spaces. California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton delves into the profound, decades-long friendship between these two pioneers, exploring the philosophical and artistic parallels that influenced their world-renowned parks.

From their first meeting in the 1930s to Disney serving as an honorary pallbearer at Eaton’s funeral in 1966—mere months before his own passing and burial at Forest Lawn–Glendale—their creative kinship left an indelible mark on American culture.

Marking the 60th anniversary of their passing, California Visionaries celebrates the enduring achievements of two men whose shared vision transformed how the world experiences storytelling, memory, and imagination.

“California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton” at Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale is open September 19, 2026 through February 7, 2027.

The exhibition is the first to explore the personal and creative relationship between Walt Disney and Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks founder Hubert Eaton, highlighting the philosophical and artistic parallels that shaped their respective legacies and the iconic parks they created.

Both businessmen traveled similar paths from Missouri to California, opening organizations that are deeply woven into the fabric of American culture.

Despite working in different industries, Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton shared similar visions and ambitions. They corresponded from the 1930s through 1960s, visited each other’s parks, and served together on the board of Saint Joesph’s Hospital. Forming a lasting relationship and inspiring one another throughout their careers. In 1966, Disney was an honorary pallbearer to Eaton’s funeral. Disney passed away a few months later and is interred, like Eaton, at Forest Lawn-Glendale. “California Visionaires” celebrates their achievements on the 60th anniversary of their passings.

Disney and Eaton also worked with some of the same artists, including Herbert Ryman, an Imagineer who drew the first sketch for Disneyland and the first sketch for Forest Lawn’s colossal painting, “The Resurrection”.

Walt Disney and Hurbert Eaton were influenced by the grandeur of medieval castles and cathedrals, and their parks brought the architecture of that period to Southern California audiences.

They shared a love of Americana honoring icons Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln in their attractions and artistic patronage.

“California Visionaires” features newly discovered archival photographs, sculptures, illustrations, animatronic figures, ride vehicles, and more. World Fairs showcased innovations that left lasting impacts. Forest Lawn had at one point a train system that ran up and down the mountainside not too far from the museum’s location. It closed shorter after Eaton’s passing. In a way, Forest Lawn operated a ride of its own just like Disneyland.

Colorful maps illustrate the parallel development and shared esthetics of Forest Lawn and Disneyland in the mid-twentieth century.

Sheet music from “it’s a small world”, “The Skeleton Dance”, and “Cinderella” are on display for close up views of hand-written annotations from their creators. A movie projection of “The Skeleton Dance” is actually quite fitting given the museum’s location within the Memorial Park. There was even a shared fondness for Han Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid” as displayed in photographs, statutes, and sheet music. Music plays a huge role in Forest Lawn’s services.

The final section of the exhibition honors the enduring legacies these men have left behind. Their successors picking up the reigns and moving forward on projects with EPCOT and developing Forest Lawn into Cypress, Covina Hills and more.

The exhibition features artifacts on loan from collaborations with Garner Holt Productions, The Walt Disney Archives, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, private collections, and Forest Lawn Museum. As a matter of fact, a past exhibition called “Bob Baker Marionette Theater: 60 Years of Joy & Wonder” was featured at the museum from October 2022 until March 2023.

“California Visionaires” was co-curated by James Fishburne, Ph.D., Forest Lawn Museum Director, and Harrison Foreman, who worked at Walt Disney World for over 12 years prior to joining the Forest Lawn Museum. Listening to the two speak enthusiastically about piecing the exhibition together being years in the making and how each area is sectioned to tell a specific story was quite the eye-opener. The passion and excitement in their voices was infectious and became more inspiring by the minute.

There was initial uncertainty of how the connection  between the two men and their legacies fit into a museum of its setting. But all that hesitation withered away quickly. The focus was on the historical significance and fruitful relationship between the giant figures pulling together their resources to contribute back to society. It is the sort of draw that brings the community together. And doesn’t come across as preachy.

I’ve recently associated Forest Lawn as a burial for my father and still dealing with his passing. The exhibition opened up at a suitable time for myself and will be forever grateful. I was able walk out of the museum re-energized and open to the positive sensibility that is the celebration of life. I will need to make plans in the future to explore more of the art, sculptures, and architecture Forest Lawn Glendale has to offer.

Forest Lawn Museum is also premiering another new exhibition in the same building, “75 Years: Art Finds a Home at Forest Lawn” from September 19, 2026 through July 18, 2027. This exhibition celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, which opened in 1951, and Forest Lawn Museum, which opened in 1952. It features newly rediscovered and restored audio of the original program for the Hall of Crucifixion and never-before-exhibited archival photos. The exhibition explores the evolution of Forest Lawn Museum, sculpture collection in the 1920s, art galleries in the Great Mausoleum from the 1940s, and more.

Museum hours are Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. Admission and parking is free.

For more information about “California Visionaires”, visit  https://museum.forestlawn.com/pages/california-visionaries-the-lives-and-legacies-of-walt-disney-and-hubert-eaton

For more information about “75 Years: Art Finds a Home at Forest Lawn”, visit https://museum.forestlawn.com/blogs/forest-lawn-museum-exhibitions/75-years-art-finds-a-home-at-forest-lawn

For more information and announcements about upcoming museum and park related events including Dia De Los Muertos Celebrations, visit https://forestlawn.com/events

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