Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr. is a character from the film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He is prominently featured in Adventureland, and is connected to the lore of the Jungle Cruise.
History[]
Biography[]
1900s[]
Henry Jones, Jr. was born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1899 to archaeologist Professor Henry Jones, Sr. and the adventurous Anna Mary Jones. He often travelled the world with his father on his lecture-circuits. Henry, Jr. would also favour the name, "Indiana" after the beloved family Alsatian who bore the same name. In 1912, Anna died of complications with scarlet fever and her death would result in Indy and his father becoming distanced.
Also in 1912, Indy fought a mysterious criminal antique-collector known as, "The Man in the Panama Hat". This figure attempted to pillage a golden artifact known as the Cross of Coronado which Indy believed belonged in a museum. While escaping the man's men on a circus-train, Indiana first used a bullwhip as a multi-purpose weapon (though accidentally scarring his chin in the process) and developed a fear of snakes after falling into the reptile car. After succeeding in claiming the cross from the man, the man used his influence to obtain the cross from the law for his personal collection. Before leaving, one of the criminal's grave-robbers decided to give Indy his fedora as a show of good form.
In 1916, Indy assumed the alias of Henri Defense to enlist in World War I at the age of 17. Indy befriended the Belgian Remy Baudouin in the line of duty and became a colonel. While in Gabon in 1916, his crew became sick but were healed by the German physician Albert Schweitzer who had isolated himself from the war to provide medical aid to the Indigenous peoples of Africa, combatting sicknesses brought by the white. With Schweitzer, Indiana was advised against direct military efforts and after leaving instead became a secret-agent for the allied military.
1920s[]
After World War I, Indiana attended the University of Chicago. Along with close friend Harold "Ox" Oxley, Indy studied under egyptologist and archaeologist Dr. Abner Ravenwood. Ravenwood considered Indiana to be like a son to him and Indy also became close with Abner's young daughter, Marion. In 1925, Indiana started a sexual affair with Marion who was underage at the time, resulting in Abner being heartbroken and severing his ties with Jones. Abner and Marion later moved to the Himalayas in Nepal.
In the mid 1920s, Jones was employed as a professor at the Marshall College in Bedford, Connecticut. At the college, Indy frequently worked alongside dean Marcus Brody, an old friend of his father. Brody as also a museum curator who often arranged for his museum to purchase artifacts recovered from Indiana's adventures and archaeological expeditions.
1930s[]
Temple of the Crystal Skull[]
In 1931, Jones travelled to the Lost River Delta of Cusco, Peru. Here, he joined forces with a group known as the League of Adventurers to locate the lost Temple of the Crystal Skull. Upon locating the lost table with their two halves of an ancient map, the league was chased out of the Delta by the powerful Crystal Skull entity which presided over the temple. While pursuing a variant of the legendary Fountain of Youth within the temple, Jones disappeared himself.
In the archaeologist's absence, his assistant Paco took over as head of the excavation. Paco ran, "Temple Tours" through the Temple of the Crystal Skull for additional funds and to try and locate Jones. When one of these tour groups angered the Crystal Skull, they were saved by Jones. Together, Jones and the tourists fought their way out of the temple with the further fate of the expedition being unknown.
Prior to 1932, Indiana fought a criminal archaeologist named Professor Garrett Reed. The two competed over a golden idol in Peru which Indy succeeded in obtaining. Jones later gave this idol to the Museum of Antiquities in California. In the December of 1932, Jones was interviewed by journalist Andrew Sinclair-Harris of the Daily Colonial Journal newspaper when Reed was wanted at large.
The Philosopher's Stone[]
In the March of 1933, Jones located the lost city of Cozan in the rainforests of British Honduras. Here, he claimed the Crystal Skull of Cozan from Italian fascist, Leonardo Sarducci. Due to this, Sarducci had Jones branded as a grave-robber and criminal who was a wanted criminal in British Honduras. Following this, Jones teamed up with sibling British alchemists Alistair Dunstin and Alecia Dunstin to locate the legendary Philosopher's Stone in Egypt's Tomb of Hermes. Sarducci pursued the expedition only to be melted to the bone by the power of the stone, resulting in Indy and his crew leaving the Philosopher's Stone in the tomb.
The Temple of Doom[]
In 1935, Indiana Jones travelled to Shanghai to make a deal with crime-lord Lao Che. Jones had recovered the urn of late emperor Nurhachi for Che in return for the Peacock's Eye, a large diamond which Jones had pursued for over a decade. The two made the exchange within Lao Che's nightclub Club Obi Wan only for Che to poison Jones and offer the antidote for the return of the diamond. Indiana attempted to threaten the life of Lao Che's singer girlfriend Willie Scott for the antidote only for this plan to fail.
Jones was bailed out by his friend Wu Han posing as a waiter and pulling a pun on the gangsters. However, Lao Che's son Chen shot Wu resulting in pandaemonium filling the nightclub. In the chaos, Jones took the antidote and escaped in a car alongside Willie with said car having been driven by his child ally, "Short Round". The three fled Shanghai by stowing away on an airplane, unknowing that it was owned by Lao Che who had ordered the pilot to abandon-ship and let the three die in the ensuing crash. Jones caught onto this scheme and the three used a life-raft to safely plummet into the jungles of Pankot, India.
In Pankot, the three were taken in as guests at the Pankot Palace only to discover it hid the, "Temple of Doom", a structure where the mad priest Mola Ram and his Thuggee Cult performed occult human sacrifices. When Jones attempted to reclaim the mystical, "Sankara Stones" from the cult, he was captured and force-fed the, "Blood of Kali" to brainwash him into servitude. When the Thuggee attempted to sacrifice Willie Scott, Jones' will allowed him to break free and caused a brawl in the Temple of Doom. After a chase, Jones killed Mola Ram by cutting the liens of a rope-bridge over a crocodile-infested river where the mad priest died.
In the fallout of this event, Jones had Short Round send the, "kryta" doll depicting Indy made by Mola Ram to Trader Sam, a friend of Jones' mother. Jones wished for Sam to destroy the kryta however Sam merely safeguarded it. Around the mid 1930s, Sam also opened a bar in the Polynesian isles which Jones sent him a bullwhip and fedora as a gift to commemorate. Indiana Jones himself would sometimes attend this bar as a patron.
Temple of the Forbidden Eye[]
Following the events at the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones located the Temple of Sherdil in Bengal which he began excavating. Jones was to speak at a lecture titled, "Secrets of the Stone Tiger Revealed!" alongside one Dr. Rachel Flannery but he disappeared within the temple before the lecture. Within the temple, Jones located a mystical artifact known as the Rod of Sherdil and a fragmented map leading to the lost Temple of the Forbidden Eye. After the tour-group assisted in freeing Jones from the temple, Flannery betrayed Jones to try and steal the Rod of Sherdil, only to be knocked down a pit within the temple to a presumed death.
In the June of 1935, Jones' friend and frequent affiliate Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir sent Jones the missing portion of the map after his brother-in-law found it on the black-market. Indiana Jones would search for the Temple of the Forbidden Eye in the Lost Delta of India, connected to the mystical, "Wilds of Adventureland".
Indiana Jones fighting Desert Hawk
While searching for the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Indiana Jones was attacked by an enemy called Desert Hawk, whom he had some history with, over the map. The two initially fought on the upper levels of the Jungle Navigation Company's boathouse in the Lost Delta, where they used oars to battle. After this, Indy knocked the villain out with a crate and told onlookers, "When he wakes up, tell him Indy won!". After this, Indiana sought high-ground to look for the temple, from a balcony over the Adventureland Bazaar. Indiana was attacked here again, where Desert Hawk was able to claim the map to the temple. The final fight between Indiana Jones and Desert Hawk occurred on the rope bridge of an Adventureland treehouse where Indiana used his whip to reclaim the map and beat Desert Hawk to the floor.
In the October of that year, Jones' rival archaeologist René Belloq learned of the excavation by manipulating Jones' contact Prof. Kauffman at the Universitatis Sigillium. In 1935, Indiana Jones and Sallah discovered the Temple of the Forbidden Eye and collaborated with British Colonial Affairs to excavate the ruins via the, "Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition".
To earn additional revenue, Sallah established the company, "Sallah Tours" which lead tourists through the temple.[1]. Sallah also contacted Jones' family friend and frequent affiliate Trader Sam to bring patrons of his bar to the temple. Jones objected to the high number of tourists travelling to the temple for Mara's gifts, however British Colonial Affairs forced the expedition to continue this business for proift. Throughout the excavations, Jones contacted Abner Ravenwood again as he was an expert on the Temple of the Forbidden Eye's history. However, one British Colonial Affairs group of tourists went missing in the temple which sparked global controversy and outrage.
On the July 6 of 1936, Indiana Jones disappeared in the temple while seeking after lost tourists and the Jewel of Power past the Gates of Doom. In a week of his absence, Sallah amplified the number of tours brought in as a means of getting more eyes in the temple to find Jones. One of these tours happened upon Jones after gazing into the eyes of Mara and being fated to be dragged through the Gates of Doom. Indiana Jones forced the gates of doom shut, saving the guests. The guests then navigated the temple in their jeep while pursued by Mara's forces. Ultimately, Jones and the guests were able to escape the temple with their lives.
On the July 6 of 1936, Indiana Jones disappeared in the temple while seeking after the mythical Jewel of Power past the Gates of Doom. In his absence, Sallah amplified the number of tours brought in as a means of getting more eyes in the temple to find Jones. One of these tours happened upon Jones after gazing into the eyes of Mara and being doomed to be dragged past the Gates of Doom. Indiana Jones forced the gates of doom shut, saving the guests. The guests then navigated the temple in their jeep while pursued by Mara's forces. Ultimately, Jones and the guests were able to escape the temple with their lives.
Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors[]
In the July 20th of 1936, Jones and his aviator Jock Lindsey travelled to Peru in pursuit of the golden Chachapoyan Fertility Idol.[2] Jones navigated the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors which contained several booby-traps and betrayed from his hired assistant Satapo who died to said booby-traps. Upon his escape, Jones was confronted by René Belloq who had manipulated the Chachapoyan tribe into overpowering Jones and recovering the idol only for Belloq to later steal it. Jones and Jock made a swift escape aboard Lindsey's airplane the OB-CPO.
Raider of the Lost Ark[]
Upon returning to Connecticut, Jones was approached by the U.S. government who hired him to track down the Ark of the Covenant in Cairo when it was being sought after by Belloq and the nazis. Knowing that Abner Ravenwood had the medallion needed to locate the ark, Jones travelled to Nepal only to learn from Marion that the professor had died. After nazis attacked Marion's bar and burned it to the ground, the two joined forces to travel to Tanis and seek after the lost ark.
Belloq and the nazis cheated Jones and his allies to steal the ark from the Well of Souls first and take it to their secret base of Geheimhaven near Crete. Jones stowed away aboard their submarine, however and reclaimed the ark after the nazis opened it and were destroyed by the power of the Hebrew God. While Jones believed the ark believed in a museum, the US government intercepted and stowed it away within Hangar 51, Nevada to be studied as a weapon.
Meanwhile, Jones and Marion rekindled their relationship together. In the Fall of 1937, Marion became pregnant with Indy's child but did not tell him. The two were set to be married however Indy got cold feet and left her at the altar. This abandonment would result in Jones' old friend Harold "Ox" Oxley abandoning him to take care of Marion. The child would be named Henry Williams and was raised unaware of his true parentage.
The Last Crusade[]
In 1938, Jones hunted down the Man in the Panama Hat aboard his ship the Vasquez de Coronado off the coast of Portugal. Jones recovered the cross and blew up the ship, killing his old rival in the process. Upon returning to the US, Jones was recruited by billionaire Walther Donovan to examine tablets which would aid in finding the Holy Grail, an Arthurian artifact which Indy's distant father was obsessed with. Jones then learned from Donovan that his father went missing while pursuing the Holy Grail in Europe. Upon returning home, Indy found that his father had mailed him his journal needed for leading to the grail and his own location.
Indy travelled to Venice to follow his father's trail where he met with Austrian art-historian Dr. Elsa Schneider. The two managed to follow Henry Sr.'s trail to a castle in Hatay which they found was secretly a nazi base. Indy found his father was being kept a prisoner by the nazis and broke him out, only to discover that both Elsa and Walther were secretly working for the Third Reich. The Jones boys escaped the castle and began a race to find the Holy Grail before the Germans could; a mission in which they were aided in by Marcus Brody and Sallah.
Both parties found the Temple of the Sun where the grail was being kept. Here, Donovan shot Henry Sr. as motivation for Indy to traverse the temple's booby-traps and recover the grail for Germany. Deep within the temple, Indy found the grail being protected by an ancient knight who Jones easily bested in a fight and who believed Indy to be a knight himself. When Donovan entered the chamber, he and Elsa chose the wrong grail resulting in Donovan aging to death while Jones managed to recover the correct grail to heal his father. When the grail was moved past the temple's seal, the temple began to collapse with Elsa dying inside but Henry, Sr. deciding to let the grail go so that they could escape.
Late 1930s[]
In the October of 1938, Indiana Jones and Jock Lindsey travelled to Florida in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. On this adventure, the two nearly crashed into Lake Okeechobee. They made a crash-landing in the sleepy town of Disney Springs on October 17 before continuing their search. The two failed in locating the fountain but did stop at every tourist destination along the way. Also at some point in 1938, Indiana was seemingly active again in the Lost Delta where he sent a crate of unidentified contents to British Colonial Affairs.
Following his quest for the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones would reclaim the Ark of the Covenant, within its Hangar 51 crate via unknown circumstances. Following this, he seemingly trekked the Rivers of Adventure, a mystical waterway combining exotic locations across the globe into the Wilds of Adventureland. Through unknown circumstances, Jones lost at-least three of his archaeological findings throughout the river's jungles. While in the Congo Basin, Jones once again lost the ark in the basin with it falling into the possession of a silverback gorilla.
Jones spent time in the African veldt along the Nile of North Africa (either in Sudan or Egypt) where he left his father's umbrella nearby the location of the region's infamous Lost Safari. The headdress of Mola Ram which he also brought on the expedition would through unknown circumstances be claimed by the nearby Umbala tribe and put on display in their territory. These artifacts were seemingly later recovered by the Jungle Navigation Company although the Ark would find its way back to Hangar 51.
1940s[]
Jones fought against the nazis for the allies during World War II. Around 1945/1946, he returned from the war and in June took recon photos of the Aleutian isles with Jock. Here, the two fought several pirates known as the, "Sea Butchers".
In 1947, a mysterious craft shaped like a flying-saucer crashed into Roswell, New Mexico. Indiana was amongst the officials hired by the U.S. government to excavate the wreckage which contained the corpse of an intelligent, interdimensional organism. These remains were transported to Hangar 51 which Jones was aware of but threatened with the government by black-listing to keep his silence.
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull[]
In 1957, the Soviet Union kidnapped Indiana Jones and broke into Hangar 51 to have him locate the crate for them. Also in 1957, the skull of Akator was located by Professor Harold "Ox" Oxley but it drove him to insanity. Oxley was captured by the Soviet Union who were aware of the interdimensional beings due to having stolen one of their corpses from Hangar 51. The soviets wished to use the power of the skulls to telepathically make the entire human-race communist.
When Harold was sought after by Marion and Indy, he and their allies worked to return the skull to Akator. They eventually did so, bringing the interdimensional beings back to life as they left earth in their flying-saucer. Jones went on to take his place as father to Mutt Williams and also married Marion.
The Dial of Destiny[]
By around the late 1960s, the CIA studied and analyzed Indiana Jones.
Jungle Cruise appearances[]
Indiana Jones appeared live in Adventureland for a limited time to tie in with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). In these appearances he had a journal and etching of artwork of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.
Adventure Trading Company[]
The Eye of Mara Juju was achieved by aiding the Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition in deciphering Maraglyphs from the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. One, "Henry Jones" was also listed as a member of the Adventure Trading Company although it is unclear if this would refer to Indiana or his father.[3]
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye[]
Indiana Jones is the protagonist of this attraction.
Jungle Cruise[]
Nigel Greenwater mentions Indiana Jones' activity at the Temple of the Forbidden Eye in the queue for Disneyland's Jungle Cruise. The Jungle Cruise also involves passing by the Temple, originally in 1936 when Jones excavated it. The life-raft of the Vasquez de Coronado left-behind by Jones appears on the docks of the Mekong boathouse. Jones is often mentioned by skippers while passing the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. When making live-appearances in Disneyland, he sometimes appeared in the upper-levels of the Jungle Cruise's queue.[4]
Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries[]
In this refurbishment of the Jungle Cruise, objects from Jones' adventures were filled throughout the Jungle Cruise.[5] Artifacts left behind included: the crate containing the Ark of the Covenant in the Congo, the Peacock's Eye diamond, Henry Jones Sr.'s umbrella on the African veldt, Mola Ram's headdress in the headhunter camp, and the crystal skull tablet in Trader Sam's possession.
Jingle Cruise[]
In the Jingle Cruise, skippers mentioning him not attending their company New Year's Eve party due to, "Hating it when the ball drops".
Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity[]
In the Daily Colonial Journal is a 1932 interview with Jones on the topic of Garrett Reed.
Skipper Canteen[]
In the library of the Skipper Canteen is a book by Indiana Jones titled, "The Eyes of Mara". There is also a keg of the backside water from Schweitzer Falls is to be sent to Marshall College.[6]
Trader Sam's[]
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar[]
There are many references to Indiana Jones and his relationship with Trader Sam in this bar. Most notably is a fedora and bullwhip gifted to Sam by Jones with a letter from Sallah Tours.[7] The letter reads, "Sam, Mine always seems to get me out of trouble, so I picked up an extra for you. Incase someone asks for a special drink you need to 'whip' up, Running a bar can be tricky. See if you can find Marion if you need any tips! See you the next time, Indiana".
Sallah is also mentioned in a message to Sam by Short Round, asking Sam to dispose of a kryta made by Mola Ram depicting Jones. Letters to Sam from Marcus Brody and Sallah question Sam on Jones' potential location. Sam also has a newspaper clipping from March 24, 1933 which is titled "Grave Robber or Archaeologist? Dr. Indiana Jones Wanted by Honduran Government" referencing events from the novel Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone. He also has a ticket belonging to Jones for a trip to San Francisco and photo of Jones (represented by a skipper) with a python behind his back, by Sam saying this occurred after Jones left Sam's bar but triggered his fear of snakes, presumably causing him to return to the bar for drinks.[8]
In other media[]
Jungle Cruise Adventure Game[]
In this game, Indiana Jones is depicted as a member of the Temple and DeNyle families.
Skipper Survival Guide[]
Jones is featured in this retconned backstory for the Jungle Cruise. He was notably mentioned as working with the Jungle Navigation Company to excavate the Temple of the Forbidden Eye and search for ancient writing in the Cambodian ruins.
Unused[]
Jungle Expedition[]
Other connections[]
Adventureland Bazaar[]
The genie in Aladdin's other lamp mentions Indiana Jones.
Great Movie Ride[]
Jones and Sallah appeared lifting the Ark of the Covenant in the Well of Souls within this attraction.
Other appearances[]
Camp Discovery[]
At Camp Discovery is a newspaper from First International News dated to 1931. The article details how Jones collaborated with the League of Adventurers to discover the Temple of the Crystal Skull. Also in this same newspaper is detailing of a tragedy having occurred at the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Disneyland Railroad[]
On the Frontierland route from New Orleans Square to Toontown is a dog-house for the Jones' family-dog Indiana.[9]
Disney's Hollywood Studios[]
Indiana Jones: Den of Destiny[]
This was a brief bar re-theme of the Adventure Outpost, filled with props and decor connected to Indiana Jones. A board of CIA intel had multiple photographs of Indiana Jones and his allies.
Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost[]
These shops are themed to being outposts visited by Jones during his adventures.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular![]
In-universe Hollywood actors portray Indiana Jones in this show.
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull[]
Indiana Jones is the protagonist of this attraction.
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril[]
This rollercoaster is set at a temple which Jones is excavating.
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar[]
This attraction is themed to being run by Jock Lindsey, Jones' aviator. There are photographs and references to Jones throughout the bar.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse[]
Indy's whip and fedora hang from the wall in this Muppets themed restaurant.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue[]
A piece of luggage passes by G2-9T with Jones' fedora and bullwhip in it.
Trivia[]
- Jones is similar to Jake Sully from Avatar (2009) in that they are both film protagonists featured in the backstories of Jungle Cruise attractions that are unseen in the actual attractions and who were not owned by Disney during their time of integration but were later obtained.
- There is a minor discrepancy in continuity between the Indiana Jones Encyclopedia and Indiana Jones Adventure as in the encyclopedia it states Indy happened upon the temple by chance directly after the events of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom while in the ride, messages reveal he located it via a black-market map. There is a further discrepancy with Indiana Jones stating he doesn't believe in the supernatural in Raiders of the Lost Ark (set after the ride) though this continuity error is shared with countless Indiana Jones materials, including Temple of Doom.
External links[]
- Indiana Jones on the Indiana Jones Wiki.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/inexorabletash/7848397840/
- ↑ https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/jock-lindseys-hangar-bar-updated-menu-review-and-happy-hour-revisited/
- ↑ https://www.endorexpress.net/movies-tv-shows/indiana-jones/2014/08/adventure-trading-company-2-0/
- ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2023/06/30/photos-video-indiana-jones-in-adventureland/
- ↑ http://disneylanddiva.blogspot.com/2008/09/indiana-jones-and-summer-of-hidden.html
- ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/s6_skippercanteen/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CUar9vxvCK6/
- ↑ https://www.endorexpress.net/parks/disneyparks/disneyland-disneyland/2011/11/trader-sams-enchanted-tiki-bar/
- ↑ https://duchessofdisneyland.com/disneyland/indianas-doghouse/