We stopped by The American Adventure at EPCOT recently and found that the Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors exhibit has been removed. The exhibit featured veteran portraits painted by former President George W. Bush. Disney had extended the display through the July 4th weekend as part of the company’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. That run has now ended.
Portraits of Courage Gallery Removed at EPCOT
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The Portraits of Courage exhibit space is now empty
- The gallery’s extended run was tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebration
- The nearby American Heritage Gallery is also currently closed
The rotunda within The American Adventure building now sits empty. It most recently held more than 60 oil portraits of post-9/11 veterans painted by former President George W. Bush. Benches remain in place around the room, and bunting with gold stars still lines the second-floor railing. The walls themselves are bare where the paintings once hung.
We also found the entrance doors to the nearby American Heritage Gallery closed. That gallery sits just off the same lobby as the Portraits of Courage rotunda.
A Look Back at the Exhibit’s Run
Portraits of Courage debuted at The American Adventure on June 9, 2024, bringing together paintings President Bush made of service members and veterans who served since 9/11. Disney extended the exhibit multiple times, most recently tying it to “Disney Celebrates America,” the company’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. As we reported in February, Disney confirmed the display would run through the July 4, 2026 weekend, folding it into a broader slate of anniversary programming that included a U.S. Air Force flyover over Magic Kingdom and EPCOT on Independence Day itself.
We don’t yet know what, if anything, will move into either space next. It’s also unclear whether the American Heritage Gallery’s closure is tied to the same transition. We’ll continue watching both spaces and update this story as we learn more.
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