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There are two rules for participating in the volunteer program at The Walt Disney Family Museum. First, have fun. Second, learn something new. For some volunteers, only the first rule truly applies. Join us to have fun and learn, and as Volunteer Joseph Titizian demonstrates how you might get more out of your experience than you expect...

Disney historian Jeff Kurtti penned this tribute to James MacArthur for us: One of Walt Disney’s many talents was a flair for casting, and a genius for recognizing unusual talent. Although the application of this gift within the Animation trade is well-known, as is the roster of live-action stars who came to be associated with Walt, both professionally and culturally—Annette Funicello, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Fred Mac Murray, and Dean Jones to name a few—there is one actor whose relationship with Walt Disney is frequently forgotten: James MacArthur.

We'd like to thank everyone who came out for the Anniversary Weekend (Oct 1-3), as well as all our guests who visited the Museum during the month of October! Here are photo highlights of all our celebratory activities!

Just in time for the creepiest of holidays, we asked our Preparator, Ben Peters, to give us a look at some of the more creepier artifacts in our Collection. As a general rule, my favorite parts of Disney films are the scary scenes and of the characters, I generally prefer the villains. My coworkers always call me over when they pull out an artifact that is especially sinister looking because they know I will love it. So for this Halloween blog I’ve chosen to share just a few of the more creepy artifacts in our collection. Happy Halloween!

This is the last of a five-part series that looks back at the Museum's roots and its journey to opening day, Oct. 1st, 2009. If mountmakers, installers, preparators, art handlers (we have lots of different names) do their job well you will never know they exist. We might spend hours, days, months, even years preparing and installing an exhibit but when you, the visitor, come to see it we don’t want you thinking anything about the work we do. Our charge is to get the artifacts into the cases in...

The first time that we met Bruce Gordon was on a soundstage in Hollywood, where we interviewed him for the Walt Disney Family Foundation/Pantheon Productions documentary Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. Bruce spoke eloquently and enthusiastically that day, about Walt and Disneyland. My Mom, sister Joanna, and I were a captivated audience. After the interview, we hoped to chat for a minute or two, but just as quickly as he had entered the stage in his blue button down dress shirt, khaki pants, and black tennis shoes, he was out the door, back to Walt Disney Imagineering.

We are proud to announce our latest exhibition, Dave Stevenson and The Art of the Map, that is currently on display in our Theater Lobby. One of his maps details the migration of the Disney family from Europe to America...

Walt Disney said it best: "I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment." And while it's true that Walt was pushing the envelope long before YouTube, we think it's a good way to launch our FIRST ANNIVERSARY VIDEO CONTEST! So pick up your cameras and get the creative juices flowing because it's time for YOU to explore and experiment!

The Walt Disney Discovery Camp has ended but the memories will last forever! We had an amazing time this summer with our campers, some of which traveled from as far away as Wisconsin to join us.

During your next visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum, I invite you to the lower lobby to see the new case installed just a few days ago. The case is filled with treasures from Mary Blair who, according to some historians, was Walt Disney’s favorite artist! She provided concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, among other feature-length animated films and shorts.

Join us for an afternoon of Bay Area film, food and fun with KRON 4's Jan Wahl! San Francisco is the star of this REEL Local line up. From Vertigo to Dirty Harry, experience San Francisco through the eyes of Hollywood while you snack on unbeatable Bay Area bites, wine, and brews! Check out the film line-up and menu:

Our guest curator this week is Issey Honton. Issey is our Conservation and Preparation Technician. He works closely with Ben Peters in designing and installing the various exhibits in The Walt Disney Family Museum. We asked Issey to pick his favorite artifact from the Collection and write about why he chose it. Here's his pick: My favorite object of the collection has to be one of the Heinrich Kley drawings. Kley, born in 1863, is best known for his satirical take on the modern industrial life of his time, as well as his ability to humanize animals. Although not as well-known today as he perhaps should be, his work influenced many artists throughout the 20th Century, including Walt Disney.

Harrison "Buzz" Price, the research economist who recommended Anaheim to Walt Disney as the location for Disneyland, passed away Sunday, August 15, at the age of 89. "Despite his failing health, he continued to demonstrate his trademark humor, cutting edge wit and enduring love for family and friends," his son David Price said on behalf of his mother, Anne Shaw Price, and the Price family. "His legacy of laughter, wit, love, passion and commitment leaves its mark on each of us--family, friends and colleagues in the leisure and recreation industry he loved."

The Walt Disney Family Museum has an impressive collection of artifacts that were all part of the life and career of Walt Disney. We are looking forward to sharing some of those objects with you in the months ahead. This particular object is the name plaque from Walt's office. As Walt became more well known, people from all over the world began sending him gifts. This name plaque was sent to Walt in apprecation for the hours of entertainment he provided an unknown fan. Walt kept the majority of items that he received as gifts over the years.

As many fans of Walt Disney and Disneyland know, The "E" Ticket was a magazine devoted to "collecting theme park memories". While the magazine is no longer published, it lives on in the hearts of its many devoted fans. Now, thanks to Diane Disney Miller, her family and the staff of the Museum, you have the chance to own a piece of this amazing history. But first, a bit of the back story:

We have some great events and activities lined up for you at The Walt Disney Family Museum this weekend!

In April of 2007, Michael Labrie, Lynne Phillips, and Hugh Chitwood embarked on a journey to a town outside of Chicago, IL called Ottawa. Their mission was to sort and pack one of the first donations to the Walt Disney Family Foundation. This collection would not only double the size of the already existing collection, but it would also help fill innumerable gaps in the permanent exhibition at The Walt Disney Family Museum...

This holiday season, The Walt Disney Family Museum led a group of local Presidio and Bay Area museums and organizations in collecting toys in support of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots collection drive. Following in the generous shoes of Walt Disney himself, the Museum, its partners, and the Marines, collected numerous toys and books to share with less for fortunate families...

As part of our "12 Days of Christmas" special, we asked Disney historian, Paula Sigman Lowery, to tell us about Holidayland! When we look at the “Disneyland of Walt’s Imagination”—the wonderful model showcased at The Walt Disney Family Museum—we are enchanted by the miniature versions of the lands Walt and his artists created: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland… plus Main Street, U.S.A. and New Orleans Square. But there’s one land that we don’t see, a land that existed for only five years: Holidayland.