Tom Sawyer Island Maps: A Collector’s Guide
Welcome to the dedicated archive of Tom Sawyer Island Guide Maps—some of the most sought-after map collections in Disneyland history!
This island, an original feature of Frontierland and later reimagined as Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, has a limited but fascinating cartographic legacy. While general park maps offer only an overview, these unique, island-specific maps provide a detailed, close-up look at its trails, landmarks, and adventurous layout across different eras.
Dive in to explore these specialized maps from key historical years (1956, 1965, 2007), offering a fascinating glimpse into a beloved, secluded corner of Disneyland Park.
1956 – The First Tom Sawyer Island Map
The first official brochure map for Tom Sawyer Island debuted in 1956 as a three-panel publication featuring a charming hand-drawn illustration of the island, with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn overlooking the scene. Inside, guests found descriptions of the island's seven interactive attractions, making this both a practical guide and a memorable souvenir from Disneyland's newest adventure.
1957 – A Fresh Look for the Island
The second brochure, released in 1957, introduced a larger, more colorful map with a cleaner, less crowded design. While it continued to highlight seven attractions, the lineup changed significantly. Tom's Landing, 3 Falls, and Point Lookout were removed, while Tom and Huck's Treehouse, Pontoon Bridge, and Castle Rock Ridge made their debut. Several attraction descriptions were rewritten, and the front cover was redesigned to open left-to-right. The title changed from Explorer's Map of Tom Sawyer Island to simply Tom Sawyer Island, with the original title relocated to the interior map. Other updates included replacing "Anaheim, California" beneath the Disneyland logo with "U.S.A.," adding an introductory paragraph, and introducing the first copyright notices, both on the cover and inside the brochure.
1959 – Subtle but Significant Revisions
Although the 1959 edition retained the same layout, map, and attractions as the 1957 version, several important details were updated. References to Tom and Huck's Treehouse as the "highest point in Disneyland" were removed following the opening of the Matterhorn. The corresponding notation disappeared from the map as well. The illustrated route showing raft service through Indian Village was also eliminated, reflecting operational changes. Despite these revisions, the brochure retained the original 1957 copyright information, a detail that has confused collectors for decades.
1965 – A New Printing
Printed on bright white paper rather than the earlier cream stock, this edition retained the familiar 1957 layout and attraction lineup. The "U.S.A." designation beneath the Disneyland logo disappeared, while new typography—most noticeable in the attraction headings—and black text replaced the earlier styling throughout. Once again, the brochure continued to display the original 1957 copyright, making this printing especially difficult to distinguish from earlier editions.
1966 – The D-776 Edition
The 1966 brochure is nearly identical to its predecessor. The most visible change is the relocation of the copyright notice from the lower left to the lower right corner of the cover. A new printing code, D-776, appears at the lower left. Because of its resemblance to dating codes used on vintage Disneyland ticket books, many collectors mistakenly interpret it as a June 1977 printing date. In reality, it is simply a product identification number. This is confirmed by the continued inclusion of the Fishing Pier attraction, which would disappear the following year. The brochure also returns to the original right-to-left folding style first used in 1956.
1967 – First Revision (R-1)
The 1967 printing introduced the D-776 R-1 code, identifying it as the first revision of the brochure. The primary content change is the removal of the Fishing Pier attraction from the list of featured experiences, reflecting the discontinuation of guest fishing activities, even though the structure itself remained on the island.
1970 – Second Revision (R-2)
This edition is almost identical to the 1967 version and carries the D-776 R-2 printing code. The only notable content change is the removal of the Fishing Pier label from the illustrated map, completing the attraction's disappearance from the brochure after its written description had already been eliminated.
1972 – Third Revision (R-3)
The D-776 R-3 edition introduced only a handful of updates while preserving the overall design. A registered trademark symbol now appears next to the Disneyland logo on the cover. Inside the map, restroom locations were added for Fort Wilderness and Injun Joe's Cave, while the "Secret Escape from Fort" caption was removed. References to the Secret Escape also disappeared from the Fort Wilderness attraction description on the back panel.
1980s – Fourth Revision (R-4)
The final Tom Sawyer Island brochure before the island's transformation into Pirate's Lair appeared during the 1980s. Marked with the D-776 R-4 printing code, it is virtually identical to the previous edition aside from slight variations in printing and ink color. No additional content changes were made, making this the last classic Tom Sawyer Island guide distributed to guests.
2007 – Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
The tenth and final brochure reflects the island's dramatic 2007 transformation into Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, timed to coincide with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.