The History of Liberty Square

Liberty Square is a fun and engaging area in the Magic Kingdom that is all to often a pass-through to other lands, with the exception being the Haunted Mansion. This area may be small, but it is rich in history and fun if you experience everything it has to offer.

A Little History

Liberty Square is one of the most evocative themed lands in the Magic Kingdom, transporting guests back to colonial America around the time of the Revolutionary War. Designed with meticulous attention to historical detail, the land reflects what life might have been in colonial cities and towns in the late 18th century. The architecture and iconography are all accurate to the time period.

At the heart of this land stands 2 iconic landmarks. The Liberty Tree is a live oak tree, nearly 135 years old that stands proudly with 13 lanterns that represent the original colonies. Beside it, the a replica of the Liberty Bell, cast from the same mold used for the Philadelphia bell stands proudly at the center of 13 flags that also represent the orignal colonies.

Beyond its headline features, Liberty Square is rich with subtle storytelling details that many visitors overlook. Imagineers wove historical authenticity into even the smallest elements: for instance, the slightly crooked shutters on many buildings mimic the leather-hinged shutters of colonial times when metal was scarce and often repurposed for ammunition. Look down as you walk and you’ll notice a brown “stream” embedded in the pavement — a playful yet accurate nod to the fact that colonial streets lacked indoor plumbing and waste often flowed through public ways. Even the absence of public restrooms in the land itself is intentional, reflecting the realities of 18th-century life. Hidden tributes to Revolutionary lore, such as two lanterns in a window that evoke Paul Revere’s famous signal code “one if by land, two if by sea,” are tucked into the architecture for eagle-eyed guests to discover.

Today's Magic

In July 2025, Liberty Square got another update: the closing of the Liberty Square Riverboat. This ended 1 of only 3 attractions that this area had, the other being The Haunted Mansion and The Hall of Presidents. With this, Liberty Square is now primarily a mix of restaurants, shops, and 1 ride. Despite that, this land still has a bit of magic.

If you find yourself here, obviously stop by at the Haunted Mansion for a little scare, but don't forget to visit The Hall of Presidents. It's an often overlooked

A Dwindling Future?

With each new update to the Magic Kingdom it feels as if Disney is making Liberty Square a smaller and less important component. That doesn't make it any less fun or engaging, though. From getting a short history lesson at the Hall of Presidents (or finding respite from rain) to the cute themed restaurants and small, sometimes almost hidden, details, this land should have a lot to offer.

I think this land could offer even more for visitors if Disney would expand upon the colonial-era theme and add other attractions, or even make the Haunted Mansion more expansive.

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Fun Facts

Liberty Tree

Most colonial towns had a large tree, typically at the town center, that was designated a Liberty Tree. In order to make this land truly authentic, Disney Imagineers found and transplanted a large Oak tree, which is now located next to the Liberty Bell and the Te Olde Christmas Shoppe. Next time you're nearby, check out this 135+ year old tree!

A Lack of Bathrooms

Liberty Square is the only land in the Magic Kingdom that does not have public bathrooms. Originally this was due to Disney trying to be authentic to the time period, where there would not have been any indoor plumbing (or bathrooms). The other reason was also due to space and a proximity of bathrooms available in other lands.

13 Lanterns

If you check very closely in the Liberty Tree, you'll notice there are 13 lanterns. Why? Because there were 13 original colonies, an authentic throwback to the time period this land represents. The Imagineers put a lot of effort into even minor details.

13 Flags

Surrounding the Liberty Bell are 13 flags that represent those from the original colonies. Take a look at each one next time you are here and see if you can guess which is for each colony.