Before Disney took over the central Florida area with parks, such as Disneyworld, Walt Disney personally oversaw the creation of Disneyland in Anaheim California. Debuting in 1955, five themed “lands” made up Disneyland which included Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.

Today the park has expanded to eight themed lands, adding New Orleans Square, Critter Country, and Mickey’s Toontown. Additionally, the California park has expanded to include two parks Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park.

Frontierland originally opened as a gateway to the 1880s American West, and included everything from stagecoach rides, mule rides, train rides, keel boats, a river boat, and a sailing ship. As the largest themed land, Frontierland also housed the Burning Settler’s Cabin, Fort Wilderness, an Indian Village, and the Ceremonial Dance Circle.

Shops carrying western theme items also appeared in Frontierland, and Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett in Walt Disney's Davy Crockett, made an appearance in this section of the park on the opening day of Disneyland.

However, many of the original attractions of Frontierland no longer exist.

The Indian Village closed in the 1970s, Critter Country took over sections of Frontierland, and some sections have been closed off and are no longer maintained, such as Fort Wilderness. In the late 1970s Frontierland introduced the Great Thunder Mountain Railroad with great success. The popularity of this ride led to the Disney company incorporating the ride’s design into their other parks, such as Magic Kingdom.

While many of the original attractions no longer remain, the few that do include the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia.