Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible
Disney Legend and former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde presents *Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible*, an exploration of creativity, innovation, collaboration, and the process of transforming ambitious ideas into reality. Drawing on his work designing Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Aulani, his experience with space-tourism ventures, field expeditions, design teams, and corporate leadership, Rohde discusses how creativity develops and how ideas can remain true to their origins while benefiting from improvisation and unexpected discoveries.
Rohde will discuss the book and his career with Bethanee Bemis, a museum specialist at the National Museum of American History. Their conversation will cover imagination, teamwork, exploration, invention, failure, and the connections between creative pursuits and the wider world.
When: October 17, 2026
Showtime: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tickets: Free admission. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Featured speaker: Joe Rohde, a Disney Legend, creative consultant, former Disney Imagineer, artist, traveler, storyteller, and conservationist. He was the lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and previously served as Executive Designer and Vice President of Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. He is also an Experience Architect for Virgin Atlantic.
Conversation partner: Bethanee Bemis, a museum specialist with the Division of Political and Military History at the National Museum of American History. She has worked on exhibitions including the forthcoming *Mirror, Mirror for Us All: Disney Theme Parks and the American Experience* and researches Disney theme parks as places where American identity is formed and negotiated.
Event focus: Rohde’s lessons draw from personal creativity, group collaboration, exploration, design leadership, and the challenges of turning visions into tangible experiences. The discussion includes stories of inspiration, invention, risk, success, failure, humor, and danger.
Related book: *Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible* by Joe Rohde, with a foreword by Josh Gates, is available in hardcover for $35.00. The book was published September 8, 2026.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com. The venue recommends making requests ideally one week before the event, though it will try to accommodate requests made up to the event time.