Below is a timeline of events related to Song of the South, beginning with Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus stories in the 1800's and updated through today.

1848	December 9: Joel Chandler Harris is born.
1861	April 12: The American Civil War begins.
1862	At the age of 14, Harris begins work at the Turnwold Plantation. He absorbs the stories told by many of the slaves there.
1865	April 9: The American Civil War ends. Slavery is abolished.
1881	Joel Chandler Harris publishes his first book, Uncle Remus: His Songs And His Sayings.
1901	December 5: Walt Disney is born.
1908	July 3: Joel Chandler Harris passes away.
1910's	A young Walt Disney hears the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris and is fascinated by the tales.
1939	Walt Disney purchases the rights to Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus stories for $10,000.
1944	November 30: Walt Disney Productions enters into a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Studios to begin filming for Uncle Remus (the working title for Song of the South).
1945	January 2: Filming begins for Uncle Remus.
1946	November 12: Song of the South has its worldwide debut at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia at 8:30 PM.
1948	March 20: The 20th Academy Awards is held. James Baskett receives an honorary Oscar for his performance in Song of the South as Uncle Remus. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" wins the Oscar for Best Song. Song of the South is also nominated for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. July 9: James Baskett passes away at the age of 44.
1952	October 26: Hattie McDaniel, Aunt Tempy in Song of the South, passes away at age 59.
1956	June 22: Song of the South is re-released in theaters through Buena Vista Pictures instead of RKO.
1957	May 28: Eric Rolf, John in Song of the South, passes away at age 45.
1962	June 24: Lucille Watson, Miss Doshy in Song of the South, passes away at age 83.
1965	December 12: Johnny Lee, voice of Brer Rabbit, passes away at the age of 67.
1966	December 15: Walt Disney passes away at the age of 66.
1968	March 30: Bobby Driscoll passes away at the age of 31.
1970	Disney announces in Variety that Song of the South has been permanently retired.
1972	Song of the South is re-released in theaters, breaking box-office records.
1973	Song of the South is paired up with the Aristocats as a double feature, part of Disney's 50th anniversary.
1980	October 8: Song of the South is re-released in theaters to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus stories.
1986	November 21: Song of the South is re-released in theaters for the final time.
1987	April 24: Groundraising for the original Splash Mountain in Disneyland begins.
1989	July 17: Splash Mountain, a ride based on Song of the South's animated sequences, opens in Disneyland.
1992	October 1: Splash Mountain opens in Walt Disney World. October 2: Splash Mountain opens in Tokyo Disneyland.
1996	May 1: Luana Patten, Ginny in Song of the South, passes away at age 57. November 12: Song of the South's 50th Anniversary. Disney releases some collectibles commemorating the anniversary, but not the movie.
1998	What is believed to be the final Disney Brer Rabbit book is sold in France.
2000	August: This website, SongoftheSouth.net, debuts. December 18: Nick Stewart, voice of Brer Bear, passes away at the age of 90.
2001	November 12: Song of the South's 55th Anniversary. Disney releases a commemorative pin featuring Song of the South. December: Song of the South is withdrawn worldwide. Video sales cease.
2004	April 19: Glenn Leedy, Toby in Song of the South, passes away at the age of 68.
2005	January 15: Ruth Warrick, Miss Sally in Song of the South, passes away at the age of 88.
2006	January 11: Jesse Cryor, singing voice of Brer Rabbit, passes away at the age of 99. November 12: Song of the South's 60th Anniversary.
2011	August 21: The Song of the South Facebook group is created by Christian Willis. November 12: Song of the South's 65th Anniversary.
2016	February 6: Song of the South is restored by a fan and is posted to Archive.org where it can be publicly streamed or downloaded. November 12: Song of the South's 70th Anniversary.
2019	November 12: Disney+, Disney's new online streaming movie service, is launched on Song of the South's 73rd Anniversary. Song of the South is not among the movies available.
2020	February 25: Disney CEO Bob Iger steps down. Bob Chapek is the new Disney CEO. March 11: Disney Chairman Bob Iger states that Song of the South will not be made available on Disney+.
2021	November 12: Song of the South's 75th Anniversary.
2022	November 12: Song of the South's 76th Anniversary. November 20: Bob Iger returns from retirement as Disney CEO to replace Bob Chapek. December 2: Splash Mountain's permanent closing date is announced as January 23, 2023.
2023	January 23: Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain is permanently closed. May 31: Disneyland's Splash Mountain is permamently closed.
...	...
2041	Disney's copyright for Song of the South expires, making this movie public domain. It should be noted that the Uncle Remus stories themselves are already in the public domain. Also, in 2006 Japanese courts ruled that any movies made prior to 1953 are now public domain.