When I was working on last week’s article about the Liberty Bell in the Magic Kingdom, I got to thinking about the backstage tour I took a few years ago. The Keys to the Magic tour guide pointed out a couple of historic details Disney Imagineers had added to Liberty Square.

The first one is the rifle in the window. The guide said the musket told others the man of the house was home from the war in Revolutionary times. I found another explanation which said men would place thier rifle in the window to indicate they were home and ready to answer the call to arms. Thus the term Minutemen as they could be ready in minutes.

Rifle in a window of a building in Liberty Square.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 40mm focal length.

Below you see a plaque with four arms clasped at the wrist. The plaque was a fire marker of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss of Fire. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founders. These fire markers were required for policy holders to affix them to the front of their houses, much like those home security companies do with decals today.

Four hands fire mark on a building in Liberty Square.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 130mm focal length.

Disney is known for its attention to details and the Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom is no exception.