By Nick Brandon

It really is a small world after all — and though they lie exactly 2,273 miles apart in distance, the enchantment of Disneyland is set to march into Dearborn.

Collaborating with Walt Disney Imagineering, the group responsible for all Disney-related entertainment, The Henry Ford will welcome “Behind the Magic — 50 Years of Disneyland, ” an unprecedented exhibit celebrating the golden anniversary of America’s famed theme park, to the Henry Ford Museum Sept. 23.

The display will not only put visitors behind the scenes of Walt Disney’s vision and innovation of family entertainment, but also brings back to life some of the authentic attractions the park has had to offer over the decades. And the people at America’s most highly regarded history attraction think The Henry Ford is a perfect setting for such a show.

“We are thrilled to have been granted access to Walt Disney Imagineering’s amazing collections,” said Steve Hamp, president of The Henry Ford.

Scott Mallwitz, experience design director, elaborated on this correlation, saying the favorite Michigan spot was actually inspiration for Disney to create his own park.

“The connection can be traced back to Walt Disney himself and his first visit to our Greenfield Village in 1940,” he said. “Walt was so taken with Henry Ford’s vision of an idealized American village that he returned eight years later.

“These trips, and visits to other destinations and events across the country, helped him frame the concept of what would later become Disneyland.”

As evidence, it’s well known that, on his train ride home from Greenfield Village, Disney jotted down notes that led to the design of what was initially going to be called, “Mickey Mouse Park.”

The exhibit, aided by guest curator/pop culture expert Karal Ann Marling, is a 7,500-square-foot space packed with 250 pieces of original Imagineering artwork, hand-crafted models, construction drawings and marketing materials tracing the growth and history of the Anaheim, Calif., landmark.

Some of the featured sights include the initial rendering of Disneyland drawn by Herb Ryman (which led to Disney receiving the nod from the American Broadcasting Co. to fund the park), actual figures from the beloved ride “It’s a Small World,” rare arcade games from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and, a personal favorite to many, the Model T-like vehicle used in “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”

But along with the many activities to warm hearts and bring back happy memories, the exhibit also represents the stunning novelty of the Disney and company’s creation, giving a sense of the influence Disneyland has on not just countless lives, but the entertainment world in general.

“Since designing Disneyland, Imagineers have pushed the boundaries of creativity of our Disney parks,” said Marty Sklar, vice-chairman and principal creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re proud to participate in this significant exhibit.”

Contact Nick Brandon at nbrandon@GoAndDoMichigan.com.

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