The Clock of the World (1955–1966) was a landmark at the entrance to Tomorrowland in Disneyland, Anaheim, California, serving as a futuristic timepiece from the park’s opening on July 17, 1955, until its removal on September 19, 1966. Positioned at the end of a 150-foot concrete walkway, it embodied Tomorrowland’s vision of the future, specifically the year 1986, when Halley’s Comet was expected to return.
“World Clock & Circarama, Disneyland, 1958” by Orange County Archives is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Below are 10 fun facts about the Clock of the World:
- Global Time Display: The Clock of the World showcased all 24 time zones simultaneously, allowing guests to read the exact time anywhere on Earth by aligning a rotating hour dial with a circular world map, a novel concept for 1955 parkgoers.
- Hourglass Design: Standing approximately 15 feet tall, the clock’s unique hourglass shape distinguished it from traditional clocks, reinforcing its futuristic aesthetic and signaling its role as a timekeeping marvel.
- Sun and Moon Indicators: A sun and moon sculpture atop the clock rotated to indicate day or night in each time zone, adding a visual cue that made the global time display more intuitive.
- Timex Sponsorship: Provided by the Timex Corporation and designed by Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, the clock was a corporate showcase, reflecting Tomorrowland’s early reliance on sponsor-backed attractions. The clock’s minute dial was a small, rotating ball, a quirky feature that guests could watch spin to track precise global times, adding to its space-age charm.
- Avenue of Flags: The clock was flanked by the Avenue of Flags, featuring flags of all 48 U.S. states (later 50 by 1959), arranged in order of statehood, with each pole displaying the state’s name, admission date, and motto.
- Iconic Entry Point: Positioned at Tomorrowland’s entrance, the clock served as the land’s icon in early guidebooks and postcards, rivaling Sleeping Beauty Castle for Fantasyland and the fort for Frontierland.
- Last-Minute Addition: Due to Tomorrowland’s rushed construction and budget constraints, the clock was a hastily implemented set piece, possibly repurposed from another planned attraction or built from available materials.
- Mechanical Challenges: The clock’s complex mechanism, with rotating hours and minutes, was notoriously unreliable, often requiring maintenance, though it still fascinated guests with its global timekeeping.
- Photo Opportunity: The clock was a popular backdrop for photos, often featured in promotional materials, with its sleek, mid-century modern design and vibrant flowers planted by landscaper Bill Evans.
- Removal for New Tomorrowland: Dismantled on September 19, 1966, during Tomorrowland’s 1967 overhaul, the clock was replaced by the Astro Orbitor as the land’s centerpiece, as its 1950s style no longer fit the futuristic vision.
