Bringing Back the Missions at Knott’s Berry Farm

It may seem like an odd theme park attraction. Back when admission to Knott’s Berry Farm was free, Walter Knott commissioned dioramas of the California missions. Displayed in 21 glass-fronted cases—usually with a wooden wall a few feet in front of the glass (and a roof above the space) to limit reflections and to control lighting inside—the detailed models allowed Knott’s guests to journey up the length of California without leaving the park. It was a free attraction and had no sponsor. Of course, Walter Knott hoped guests would spend money elsewhere on the “Farm.”

The dioramas were about history. But as Knott’s morphed into a thrill ride mecca, the dioramas became history.

Around 60 years after the mission models were built, they are being rebuilt. Guest contributor M.H. Habata has been watching the progress and wrote this article for Yesterland.

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