Photos of Disneyland's periphery

Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802, (714) 765-8950

Moreton Bay Fig

In front of, and slightly to the west of the ACC is this large Moreton Bay Fig.

The bottom limbs of the fig are quite climbable.

Tiny branches sprout from even thick branches near the trunk.

I like large trees, so the large Moreton Bay Fig in front of the ACC really captures my fancy. It's hard not to think of Disneyland's Swiss Family Treehouse when visiting this tree. People are often seen climbing or sitting on the lower branches of this tree, or posing for pictures in front of it. I finally got around to climbing it in 2007. If one goes around to the back side, it is easy to step right up into the lower limbs, and relatively easy to climb a few feet higher to the lower forks, which make good perches for sitting. But the limbs are slick and oblong in cross-section so that the upper edges are slightly tapered, which makes climbing slightly uncomfortable and slightly risky. There are carved initials only on the lower parts of the tree, so it appears people rarely climb very high into the tree, though it should be theoretically possible to climb far out on some of the more horizontal branches.

There used to be a plaque at the base of the tree, telling the species (Ficus macrophylla) and some background information, but this plaque was removed during the remodeling of the ACC in October 2006. Anaheim has several large examples of this species of tree: one famous one on West Street, one at Fairmont school, and one in front of the Anaheim Police Department on Harbor Blvd.

AEG

Between the Moreton Bay Fig and the ACC main plaza is a small glassy office with the name "AEG" on both doors, and a sign saying not to disturb the occupants, and no solicitors. According to the Internet, AEG = Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is one of the leading sports presenters in the world.

AEG = Anschutz Entertainment Group

AEG Menschen sprechen Englische nicht?

AEG has a small but prominent office in front of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Main building

The front of the distinctive Anaheim Convention Center.

The upper part of the ACC's dome.

The "foot" of the "band" around the ACC building.

The angular A-shaped sign in front also has a cool mid-century look.

The roof of the Anaheim Convention Center is lighted mysterious blue at night.

The modern, colorful, animated text sign in front of the Anaheim Convention Center.

The Anaheim Convention Center is one of the few remaining examples of mid-century ("Googie") architecture around Disneyland, probably because it was simply too big and expensive to tear down, unlike all the mid-century motels that were torn down since the '60s-'70s. According to an old photo on the wall in Tiffy's, ACC was under construction in 1966.

The way it used to be... Anaheim Convention Center used to have this small, fixed, non-electronic sign. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. The main entrance to Anaheim Convention Center faces its parking lot rather than Katella Avenue. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. Streams of people, looking like trails of ants, line up between the parking lot and the main entrance. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07].

Created: February 24, 2007
Updated: May 3, 2007