Where was Walt Disney born? Marceline, Missouri is often referred to as Walt’s boyhood home, but the famous animator was actually born in Chicago, Illinois.
I was in Chicago earlier this week and took a little detour on the way to the airport so I could see the home that Walt Disney’s father, Elias Disney, built by hand in the 1890s. It would be easy to pass by the home at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue without realizing the significance of the building. The home has suffered from years of neglect and there is not a historic marker anywhere. The house simply blends in with all the other homes in the neighborhood.
Elias Disney originally purchased the property in October 1891, in what was then a new section of Chicago. In early 1893, the Disney family settled into their new home with their two sons: Herbert and Raymond. Shortly thereafter, their third son, Roy, was born on June 24, 1893. Walt was born on December 5, 1901, on the second floor of the family home.
The family lived there from 1893 until Walt was about 4. Walt’s father also built a church around the corner from their family home and worked on the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the world’s fair that reportedly inspired Disney’s theme park ventures.
The family sold the Tripp house and moved to a farm in Marceline, Missouri (where you can find the Walt Disney Hometown Museum). The Disney family eventually returned to Chicago when Walt was 15, and then lived at 1523 W. Ogden Avenue. All of this history gives the Tripp house the distinction of being Walt Disney’s birthplace, but not his childhood home.
A little historic note – The house address was originally 1249 Tripp Avenue. You can see this numbering in the photo above, which shows Walt and his sister standing on the Tripp house porch. In 1909, after the Disney family had moved to Missouri, the address of the house changed to 2156 North Tripp Avenue. The house remained in the same spot, but Chicago implemented a city-wide street name and numbering system that replaced the old, inconsistent addresses system.
The house has changed owners a few times over the years and recently was acquired by investors who hope to turn it into a museum. It is an idea that sounds great on paper, but has a lot of hurdles in the way. The house has been heavily modified over the years, including a rear addition. Because of this, the house did not qualify for historical landmark status when it was evaluated a few years ago. Also, the home is not in the nicest area, which could deter some tourists.
I did not see or hear any construction during my brief visit, but there was evidence that the restoration work is underway. The aluminum siding has been removed to expose the original wood exterior. I could also see where they had reinstalled a few windows in their original locations. I read that they plan to “restore the house to its original configuration with a period of significance of 1901.” This explains why the siding was pulled away from the rear addition. I assume this section will be removed in the next phase of the renovation.
The current owners created a website for the home and periodically post updates about the renovation. I also found the Chicago Project Management site is a good resource for updates. There is no word on how long the project will take. I think that is ultimately dependent on funding. But it is nice to see that this home is getting some TLC. After the renovations, maybe the Disney home will finally receive the historical landmark status that it deserves.
