The
1964 World's Fair was held in Flushing, New York, on Long Island. Only
a few remnants remain, including the New York and Port Authority buildings,
and the Unisphere sculpture, right, symbol of the fair. The other exhibits,
all built to building codes for permanent structures, were torn down after
the two year run of the fair. The cost of the Fair was so high that more
recent expositions have trimmed their scope, and it is not likely so ambitious
a fair will be done for decades. However, the spirit of the fair is carried
on in Disney's EPCOT theme park, which echoes design elements like the
use of water and moving fountains, high tech "dark rides" with educational
entertainment themes, and multi-cultural international exhibits. Visitors
to EPCOT will see exhibits that are more modern (one of the attractions
in the '64 Fair was color television on a rectangular--rather than round--screen),
but the New York fair was distinguished by its size and amazing ambition.
Continue to see the Fair at night,
walking around, the auto company exhibits, and
more. If you have maps or guidebook materials
from the NY Fair, please let me know. I'd like to get copies. rlatham@cgsd.com.