GLENDALE, CA.- Forest Lawn Museum proudly presents “California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton.” 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. More than mere businessmen, Disney and Eaton traveled similar paths from Missouri to California, opening organizations that are deeply woven into the fabric of American culture. They met in the 1930s, forming a lasting relationship and inspiring one another throughout their careers. In 1966, Disney was an honorary pallbearer at Eaton’s funeral. Disney passed away a few months later and is interred, like Eaton, at Forest Lawn-Glendale. “California Visionaries” celebrates their achievements on the 60th anniversary of their passings.
Despite working in different industries, they shared similar visions and ambitions. Disney and Eaton corresponded from the 1930s through the 1960s, visited each other's parks, and served together on the board of Saint Joseph’s Hospital. They 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 Hubert Eaton were inspired by the grandeur of medieval castles and cathedrals, and their parks brought the architecture of that period to Southern California audiences. They also shared a love of Americana, with both men honoring icons such as Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln in their attractions and artistic patronage. “California Visionaries” features newly discovered archival photographs, sculptures, illustrations, animatronic figures, and more. Exhibition highlights include a Dumbo ride vehicle and a Matterhorn bobsled, which were previously used at Disneyland. Colorful maps illustrate the parallel development and shared aesthetics of Forest Lawn and Disneyland in the mid-twentieth century.
View sheet music from Walt Disney classics such as It's a Small World and The Skeleton Dance, as well as the original master score book for Cinderella, featuring hand-written annotations from the film’s creators, courtesy of the Walt Disney Music Legacy Library. The exhibition also features objects on loan from Garner Holt Productions, The Walt Disney Archives, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and private collections, as well as artworks and artifacts from the archives of Forest Lawn Museum.
“California Visionaries” 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 Forest Lawn Museum. Fishburne stated, “People often remark on the Disney-like nature of Forest Lawn’s art and architecture. This is not a coincidence as Eaton and Disney were inspired by the same sources, working at the same time, and corresponding for much of their careers.” Foreman added, “What brought Eaton and Disney together nearly a century ago is precisely what’s bringing people together at our museum today—a shared love of art, storytelling, and community.”
Forest Lawn Museum is premiering another new exhibition, “75 Years: Art Finds a Home at Forest Lawn,” which will also debut on September 19, 2026, and runs 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 the Crucifixion, never-before-exhibited archival photos, and ephemera from the archive of Forest Lawn Museum. These objects give a glimpse into the history and timeline of the Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, Forest Lawn Museum, and their precursors. “75 Years: Art Finds a Home at Forest Lawn” was created through collaborative curation by the Forest Lawn Museum staff.
