Saturday, we took a spontaneous trip to Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, site of the 1964 World’s Fair. I hadn’t been there since my aunt took me to the fair when I was two. Wish I could remember it.
What remains standing is the pavilion and the Unisphere, both of which can be seen from the Grand Central Parkway. I loved the run down feel of the pavilion, standing under it, looking at the rust and peeled paint and the vines crawling over it, you can almost feel the ghostly presence of the past, imagining the millions of people walking through it, looking at displays of the world of tomorrow (the pavilion was actually called the Tent of Tomorrow).
Hailing itself as a “Universal and International” exposition, the Fair’s theme was “Peace Through Understanding,” dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe. (wiki)”
That sounds like the title of an album by some indie band.
Here’s a video of what the fair actually looked like. And a slideshow. And a really neat home movie. A site dedicated to the 64 fair.
And how the fair looks today, through my eyes.
Having been born & raised in Corona, I can appreciate truly appreciate the video, links, and the great photos you’ve provided.
My father and his brothers grew up a block away from the site, and 2 of my uncles still live there to this day.
I, also, was too young to appreciate the Fair, although my father and uncles still paint vivid stories of it and the ’39 Fair.
Being a Corona native, I can’t help but bristle at how only about 20% of the park lies in Flushing, but the name Corona is either hyphenated or excluded altogether(The Mets play in Corona, too, but that’s overlooked, too).
Don’t, don’t, don’t let’s start…
Hey, is that Todd in them there pictures?
I’m loving the one of the towers from below with the cloudy sky above. Reminds me of the end of MIB.
Yep, that’s Todd. I swear you will get to meet him soon!
And that “shooting up” comment is mine…I forgot to switch names.
I agree with you about these. Well someday Ill create a blog to compete you! lolz.