20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit (1955–1966)

The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit (1955–1966) was a walk-through attraction in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, opening on August 3, 1955, and closing on August 28, 1966. Located near the Submarine Voyage, it showcased authentic sets and props from Disney’s 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, immersing guests in the Nautilus submarine’s world.

Below are 10 fun facts about the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit:

1. Authentic Film Sets: The exhibit used original sets from the 1954 film, including the Nautilus’s Wheelhouse, Chart Room, Professor Aronnax’s Cabin, Salon, Pump Room, Diving Chamber, Fitting Chamber, and Power Supply Room, transported from storage to Disneyland for a cost-effective attraction.
2. Giant Squid Animatronic: A 70-foot animatronic squid, a highlight visible through the Salon’s porthole, featured moving tentacles, replicating the film’s iconic battle scene, with mechanics adapted from the movie’s problematic but impressive prop.
3. Captain Nemo’s Organ: The Salon displayed Nemo’s pipe organ, an electric theater organ bought for $50 by set decorator Emile Kuri, later moved to the Haunted Mansion’s ballroom in 1969, where it remains with modified pipes.
4. Nautilus Model Display: Guests passed an 11-foot scale model of the Nautilus at the entrance, crafted with intricate details like glowing “eyes” (headlights), showcasing Harper Goff’s Academy Award-winning art direction from the film.
5. Tomorrowland Stopgap: Added to fill Tomorrowland’s underdeveloped space in 1955, the exhibit was meant to last six months but ran for 11 years due to its popularity, leveraging the film’s recent success and CinemaScope novelty.
6. Nuclear Power Tie-In: The exhibit connected to Tomorrowland’s futuristic theme by emphasizing the Nautilus’s nuclear-like power, a Disney-added element not in Jules Verne’s novel, highlighting 1950s optimism about atomic energy.
7. View-Master Souvenirs: In 1955, View-Master produced exclusive 3D photo reels of the exhibit, sold as park souvenirs, capturing rare color images of the Wheelhouse, Salon, and squid, as color photography was uncommon at the time. The Salon’s library included real books and nautical artifacts, meticulously arranged to reflect Nemo’s intellectual and adventurous character, enhancing the Victorian-steampunk aesthetic of the Nautilus.
8. Interactive Rooms: Each room featured unique displays, like navigational tools in the Chart Room and scientific equipment in Aronnax’s Cabin, with buttons and levers allowing guests to engage with the submarine’s operations.
9. Closure for New Tomorrowland: The exhibit closed on August 28, 1966, during Tomorrowland’s 1967 overhaul, with most sets dismantled or left to deteriorate, replaced by Adventure Thru Inner Space to modernize the land.
10. Paris Revival: The exhibit inspired Les Mystères du Nautilus at Disneyland Paris (1994–present), a walk-through with reconstructed sets, guided by Imagineer Tony Baxter and model maker Tom Scherman, honoring the original’s legacy.