PLEASE NOTE, THIS POST MAY INCLUDE AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING THAT IF YOU CLICK ON A LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE, I’LL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISION. THIS WILL COME AT NO COST TO YOU.
The song plays in my head, as we enter The New York World ’s Fair Park. “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of everyday…” This visit lights up my passion for learning about entertainment history. In New York, in 1939 and 1964, there was no greater entertainment spectacle, than the World’s Fair.
The official name of the park we enter, is Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, but it’s most recognized as The New York World’s Fair Park.
Staying in Queens, we easily walk to the park. If you are staying in downtown New York City, you can take Train 7 to the Mets-Willets Point Subway Station.
The Park
Most things to visit from World’s Fair past are from the 1964 Fair. As we begin our journey through the New York World’s Fair Park, it looks like any other park.
There are tree-lined lanes, expanses of green grass, sports fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
The Rocket Thrower Statue
The 1964 bronze statue represents the spirit of The World’s Fair. A Romanesque-looking man, the past, launches a rocket into the heavens, the future.
One mission of the World’s Fair was to show off the future. To give visitors hope and excitement for the world and what it could be.
The Unisphere
The most famous, New York Fair icon, is The Unisphere. Erected for the 1964 World’s Fair, The Unisphere continues to be the world’s largest, non-rotating globe.
Not only is it a historic symbol, it is a pop-culture celebrity. The globe is featured in multiple movies. Looking up at this gigantic, stainless steel sculpture, I’m enthralled. Even today, it is a sight to behold.
The Unisphere is a fantastic New York City photo op.
Sadly the fountain is not functioning. It’s spring, so the fountain could be drained
for the winter season. The city is also hesitant to fill the fountain, as it attracts waders and splashers. Other times, the city needs to conserve water, or the fountains need to be fixed, so admire the formidable globe, but don’t expect a water display.
Etched Granite Panels
The Unisphere looks down upon one of The New York World’s Fair Park’s newer
features. During a park renovation, etched granite panels, by artist Matt Mullican, were installed. The etchings tell the story of Corona Park’s history.
Panels represent both World’s Fairs. On a Tuesday morning, in May, the park is blissfully uncrowded. We are able to examine the etchings in detail.
The New York State Pavilion
The New York State Pavilion demonstrates the struggles cities face after hosting a global event. Cities fell into debt, and exhausted resources, to host a World’s Fair. Trying to outdo the previous host, each city strove to have the biggest, most impressive architecture exhibits, and entertainment. All of the planning was put into the present, with very little thought of the aftermath. Most buildings and features were left to crumble and decay, eventually being torn down.
As the host state, New York went all out to build the 1964 New York State Pavilion. The Pavilion includes an indoor theater, The Tent of Tomorrow, and Observation Towers.
At first I think I am a brilliant historian. I must recognize the observation towers from research and learning.
No, I recognize the observation towers from riding the Men in Black ride at Universal Orlando, theme park. Replicas of the towers are part of the ride’s theming.
The Pavilion has been an albatross around the neck of New York City, since the end of the fair. The easiest thing to do would be to tear down the whole Pavilion, but there is also a strong yearning to restore this important piece of history. The indoor theater has kept its identity, rebranding as The Queen’s Theater. The Tent of Tomorrow and Observation Towers, have not fared well. Though the city is making efforts to restore the structures, the work is slow going and hindered by budget issues. We stare up at empty scaffolding, imagining how neat this site will be, if ever completed.
The Westinghouse Time Capsules
A visit to The New York World’s Fair Park, wouldn’t be complete without a glimpse at the capsule monument.
During the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, items were placed in the time capsules, not to be opened until the year 6900. In 1939, a pack of Camel cigarettes was included. If you visited the Westinghouse pavilion during the 1964 Fair, you could sign a book, buried with the time capsule. Book signers received a special pin. Both time capsules were buried with rolls of microfilm, describing life during their respective time periods. I wonder if AI will be able to tell the people of 6900 what microfilm is and how to build a machine to view it?
Buried deep in the ground, the only indication this is the place, is a large, concreate, cylinder. The cylinder contains an inscription, letting the people of 6900, know this is where the time capsules lay.
Flushing Meadows Carousel
It’s time for one of my favorite, travel, sidequests, ride a carousel.
At one point in Coney Island’s history, there were 20 different carousels, spinning at the same time. Today, only one remains. I rode Coney Island’s B&B Carousell, earlier in the week. Now I am ecstatic to ride The Flushing Meadows Carousel. The Flushing Meadows Carousel is a combination of two former Coney Island carousels and was installed for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Located in Fantasy Forest Amusement Park, within The New York World’s Fair Park, I happily skip to this historically registered place.
For the second time during this New York trip, I am crushed. Though I did meticulous research, Fantasy Forest is closed. Their social media states that the closure is due to expected storms. I stare longingly through the locked metal bars. Oh the defeat of an unobtained goal.
The Queens Museum
Continuing to walk through the park, the carousel’s closure becomes evident. Furious, dark clouds move in, unleashing a torrential downpour. We seek refuge in the outdoor crevices of The Queens Museum. Unfortunately, it is a Tuesday, and the museum is closed.
The Queens Museum is one of the last remaining structures from the 1939 World’s Fair. The building now contains hundreds of pieces of 1939 and 1964 World’s Fair history, as
well as other notable works of art.
A museum to add to a future visit.
Disney
One of the reasons I am intrigued by the 1964 World’s Fair is that a lot of technology used in theme parks today debuted on these grounds. At current Disney Parks, you can still ride It’s a Small World, witness Lincoln’s animatronic address, or view the dinosaurs, created by Walt Disney and his imaginers for the fair. At Disney World, you can visit John and Sarah at The Carousel of Progress, that also debuted as a World’s Fair attraction.
How exciting it must have been to experience these attractions for the very first time, when the technology was brand new. How lucky we are to still be able to experience them as a piece of entertainment history.
Food and Restrooms
There are Food Trucks/Food Stands set up near the Unisphere. The park is massive, so it makes a great stop if you need a quick snack or drink.
There are public restrooms scattered throughout Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. They are some of the dirtiest restrooms I’ve encountered. The Ladies Room I enter has zero toilet paper and paper towels. Ladies, it’s a good reminder to always keep a small pack of tissues in your daypack/purse, just in case.
Our final park stop is Citi Field, Home of the Mets baseball team. We think we are here for a game, but that is a story for a different post.
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is immense. You could spend an entire New York City visit within its borders. In addition to the sites we view, there is a zoo, a botanical garden, nature trails, kayaking, and a science museum.
Though many former World’s Fair hosts, erased the majority of their Fair’s existence, you can still see a good amount of remnants at the New York World’s Fair Park.
I recommend a visit. I also recommend falling down a New York Fair rabbit hole, whether written or video, before you arrive. Let’s keep the memory of the planners, dreamers, workers, and visitors, alive.
Find a great place to stay in Queens, New York City
