Sam McKim had many jobs; actor, artist, Imagineer, husband, father. Today, with the unveiling of his window on Main Street, Sam was awarded one more job - “Cartography Masterworks: Map Maker to the Kingdom”. Having created numerous Disney maps, including the first map of Disneyland, he it is a job that would suit Sam well.

While Sam passed away in 2005, his wife Dorothy and two sons, Brian and Matt, both Disney artists in their own right, were on hand to accept the honor. Joining the McKim’s in celebration were numerous Disney Legends including Ron Dominguez, Marty Sklar, Matt Ouimet, Jack Lindquist, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Baxter, Bob Gurr, Dickie Jones, and Carroll Mumford as well many family and friends all of whom loved Sam.

Disneyland President Matt Ouimet opened the ceremony by reminding the crowd that a window on Main Street is “ the greatest honor we dispense at Disneyland, and it goes to those who have dedicated their life and heart to making (Disneyland) the special place that it is.”

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Matt was followed by Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar who welcomed the McKim family. Sklar remember that when he first set the date for this dedication, five or six weeks ago, he wrote down five words that best described Sam. When he reviewed those same words the day before the ceremony, he realized how ‘right on’ they were and wanted to share them with the guests.

• Talent: “In the 80 thousand piece of original art that were done in the design of Disneyland at Imagineering, Sam’s work in volume alone is in the top 3 or 4.” Sklar went on to tell of how the inspiration of McKim, along with Herb Ryman, Marc Davis, and Claude Coats, can be seen in a walk down Main Street today. “I remember (McKim’s) the first drawing was a black and white drawing that Sam did in 1954. Main Street and Fronteirland are worlds Sam did in black and white and some of the first works..of..Disneyland.” Marty then told the story how Sam did the exterior of the haunted mansion which became a fun controversy between Sam and Ken Anderson, over who actually drew it. Sklar went on jokingly that “we all knew Sam did it for Ken didn’t draw that well!” “When we started the World’s Fair project, some of the really wonderful works that Sam did were period pieces for the Carousel of Progress and, especially, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. For many years, the original (Disneyland) and at the Worlds Fair, the whole pre-show was Sam McKim drawings. They were really beautiful told the whole story.” Sam went on to do many other drawings of historical attractions including the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents, and EPCOT’s American Adventure. “Many of us would live in fear for we would find our selves in Sam Drawings, seeing our selves in a colonial outfit - was kind of of spooky at times!”
• Team: “Sam was a real team player who would always pitch in. He was so dependable you always knew what you were going to get when he was doing a drawing and you knew you were going to get it on time.”
• Details: Sam’s maps of Disneyland were not only fun but were full of research and detail.
• Family: “Sam would allways tells us what was going on with Dot, Brian, Matt...his daughter in law and his grand children. We felt like we knew the family very well. It was important to him and obvious to us that it was important to him.”
• Gentleman: “Sam never complained about an assignment - he always took it on with enthusiasm and you knew you were going to get 150 % of anything he did. The volume of work was only succeed by the quality of (his) work.”

Marty concluded with “I think it is very special for us to correct an oversight by making sure that Sam McKim’s name was on one of these windows.”
 
Then Marty gave the stage back to Matt who introduced Mickey Mouse. With a quick flourish, Mickey revealed Sam McKim window, followed by a good dose of pixie dust (confetti).  

It was then time for Sam’s Family. Matt McKim thanked the Disney Company, and told a funny, and kind of ironic,little story of how one of his Dad’s first projects was laying out the windows on Main Street. As a joke, he put his own name on on of the windows. At that time, Sam was told he “hadn’t been at Disneyland long enough to get a window.”
 
Brain McKim was just about able to thank everyone for coming out - Marty, his family and friends, and hoped that they you enjoyed Disneyland as much as I he did growing up there. At that point, Brian became overwhelmed by the moment and passed the podium over to his Mother.

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Dorothy - ‘Dot’ McKim approached the microphone in tears of pride to tell the crowd that “I look around as see so family, friends, fan’s - people Sam worked with, and I appreciate you coming.”
 
Matt Ouimet then presented the the family with a beautiful miniature replica of the window, which Marty Sklar revealed it to the family and audience.

Talent, team, details, family, a gentleman, and now Map Maker to the Kingdom. Sam McKim was all this and more.