Monsanto's Plastic 'Home of the Future' at Disneyland (1957)

Disneyland, Monsanto and a house made of plastic. What could possibly be a better combination? The new PRH series "Opening Days" kicks off with a look at The Monsanto House of the Future. Functioning as a walkthrough attraction, the house was meant to represent the future of home design. Utilizing plastic and other man-made materials as it's primary building components.

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[ThemeParksShouldntExist]

Hope you guys enjoy the first installment of Opening Days! If you have any other topics you want to see covered, feel free to leave them here.

We're mainly looking for stuff at Disneyland within the 1955-1965 timeframe but might make an exception for something outside that. Thanks again for watching.

[macroevolve]

1957 : Houses of the future will be made of plastic and UFO shape. 2020 : living in house built in 1957.

[ChefDuane]

Disneyland Cast Member here '77-'79, but before I worked there I was a visitor many times (grew up in Fullerton). The House of the Future was always one of the coolest things for because it wasn't a ride. You could linger an various spots in the house and think about the 'wonderful world of tomorrow.' I'm 65 now living in Dallas but still remember the House of the Future.

[champagnesupernova]

Honestly they should’ve closed it for a while and then used it as a time capsule. Like walking into the past kind of thing.

[pierceaero]

"Fire hazard!" My Architecture professors, when the class asked why we don't do stuff like that, anymore. A sort of a Plastic Pompei would result from it melting onto occupants trapping them in molten mummification. Freaking molten mummy plastic Pompeicians!Nobody ever let's us have any fun!

[josephdunn_louisiane]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I'm transcribing my grandmother's vacation scrapbook. On Saturday, May 19, 1963, she writes, "I went through the plastic home while waiting for the children. Everything was really beautiful. Only the very rich could afford such a home." Now I can see what she experienced almost six decades ago!

[DorothyPotterSnyder]

in the mountains of North Carolina, there were houses built during the 80s that were along this design. They were called “Rondelles” and they also have all the utilities in a cement core. We own one of these structures, and it is a real joy. It is roundish with eight sides, a long porch, a central room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. The upper part is made of wood, not plastic, for which I am grateful. But the design is fundamentally the same and it is a very comfortable house to live in.

[suedefringe]

It's ashame they had to tear it apart to remove it. How cool would it have been to be relocated for someone to use as a home!

[felinemagic]

Just found this. What a blast from the past. I was raised in Central California. I toured this house in 1964 when I was in the fourth grade. My parents took the family to Anaheim to visit an Aunt and surprised us with a visit to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. The Monsanto house was impressive to a kid still hooked on the Jetsons. Thanks.

[amyfey]

I love 50’s futurism! I didn’t know about this attraction, can’t wait to see more!

[misteruhl]

I was 11 years old in 1957 when I first toured the Monsanto house. I LOVED it and was so happy to think I would have a house like that someday. LOL. The floors curved seamlessly up into the walls and I remember thinking at the time, "Wow you could just hose out this place!"

[boots_n_coots]

On my walkthrough tour of this house, the eleven-year-old me reached over the rope and pushed the button on the bathroom sink, which went up and down just like in this film. I was impressed!

[litebkt]

I went through this house when I was a kid. It was one of the most memorable things I saw in Tomorrowland.

[jasonblalock]

10:10 I find it VERY funny that this "demonstration" house really was as indestructible as advertised, to the point Disney themselves had trouble actually demolishing it. So much for the stereotypes about demo models! :-)

[bingobrigade]

A little bit of Monsanto lives in us all now. It's so beautiful 💀

[jayyyzeee]

"...atomically irradiated food."
Yum! Monsanto, you know me so well!

[actoy]

I remember going through this house many times as a kid and teenager. Great memories

[BillLund]

The House of the Future was one of my favorite attractions. I always had to walk through and marvel at the futuristic furniture.

[kashakellar]

I would live in this home now. I was born in 87 but the 50's, 60's and seventies style is my favorite. All of my furniture is from these eras and my new house I'm building will have a conversation pit and other retro themed spots.

[mikes.]

This is an incredibly, well-designed, house. It is functional, very solid, and aesthetically pleasing inside and out.