Ripley Square has been the heart of Marceline since 1898. Over a hundred years ago, Ripley Square was described as one of the most beautiful miniature parks on the Santa Fe Railroad system. The City of Marceline and volunteers take great pride in its maintenance, and residents and visitors alike utilize E. P. Ripley Park on a daily basis.

Ripley Square was established thanks to the generosity of Edward Payson Ripley, then‑president of the Santa Fe Railroad, who donated 10 lots to the city that previously had a grain elevator, unsightly shacks and dumps, and several out-buildings located on the land. Early on, as the newly elected mayor of Marceline, Walter Cash began campaigning for civic improvement. Bonds in the sum of $5,000 were approved and the land graded, trees, walkways, and fountains were added, and a ‘lake’ was constructed from one side of the Park to the other. The Park also became a floral showcase for Marceline.

In the early days the park pond was more than twice the size it is now. There were swans living there and canoes to rent. It’s said that in the summer time, young men would rent a canoe and take their sweetheart for a ride. It’s also said that many of those young men received their first kiss – or slap – at the park pond. Walt Disney and his brother Roy, along with their friends, would go skating at the pond in the winter.

On Sunday afternoons Elias Disney and his family would hitch up the wagon and come into town to attend band concerts at the Park. Flora Disney would spread a quilt and the family would spend the afternoon visiting friends and listening to music. Elias Disney would occasionally fiddle in the park and it’s said that Walt Disney often visited the Park to watch trains go by, sometimes accepting a dare to pull the whistle cord on a waiting engine. These early experiences must have influenced Walt’s the creation of Main Street, U.S.A. and the Disneyland Railroad.

On December 20, 1955 steam engine #2546 was placed in Ripley Square and the locomotive was dedicated in 1956. In 1992 the Marceline Veterans Memorial was installed, honoring those who served in uniform from the Marceline area. In 2015 the Ripley Square Pond Bridge was added to help beautify the Park for years to come.

Since its beginning, Ripley Square has been been used for carnivals, celebrations, picnics, and a wonderful place to stroll in the cool evenings.