Vestigal Organs

Doctors call the appendix a vestigal organ.  It seems to have no discernible function.  It may have done something once, but whatever it did was unnecessary or redundant.  So now, it's only function is to get infected and make someone progressively sicker until it is removed.  In the body a vestigal organ is a neutral or negative thing.

I thought about this as I visited Disneyland this week.  55 years of history have left all sorts of vestigal organs in the body of the park.

Sometimes they are intentional.  Many of the windows on Main Street are painted with created occupations and real names of people who made a difference at Disney.  These not only provide atmosphere, but also memorialize important people in the history of the company.

Or, there are the homages to previous attractions that remain unnoticed by most park goers.  After the recent Rivers of America rehab (the river that runs around Tom Sawyer Island) a boat was placed for atmosphere pulled up on the shore by a cabin.  Most people don't realize that it is a repainted keelboat from the long defunct Mike Fink Keelboat ride.

Others are still there because they are too difficult to remove.  There is a hole in the middle of the Matterhorn where the skyway cars used to make their leisurely, floating trip above the park.  A similar hole at ground level in another spot is what is left of the old mine ride.

In Tomorrowland, there is another example of a vestigal organ.  Winding on pillars above the sidewalks is a desserted track.  On it, the attraction Rocket Rod's used to speed about the area.  Now they are a rare example of urban decay in the happiest place on earth.

For most people these things are only background, but to those who know the park, they are significant pieces of history.  It reminds me of our most prominent vestigal organs at Faith.  There in the R.A., on the wall opposite the window is the picture frame box with no hole inside it.  Those who know our church know it was the baptistry years ago.  Now it exists there unnoticed by most, and many may not even know why it is there.

I think it is good practice for your history to show.  It reminds you that a place has depths and memories.  Disney might be able to scrub its parks of all of the now retired attractions, but they haven't.  It may be for economic reasons, but I think it has the practical effect of reminding everyone that the park existed before they came and will exist long after they have gone.

These organs may be vestigal, but without it a way we have to remember who we are would be lost.