Did you go to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair? I did and it was spectacular! I was only 6 years old at the time, but still remember a number of attractions.
I recently found a website with a tremendous amount of information and photos. Check out the Bill Cotter Worlds Fair Site.
he 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, held at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, was a massive celebration of mid-century American culture, technology, and corporate optimism under the theme “Peace Through Understanding”. While financial estimates varied, the fair itself cost roughly $150 million to build, with overall expenses and related infrastructure projects scaling much higher. Despite not being officially sanctioned by the Bureau of International Expositions, the colossal two-season event drew an immense crowd, pulling in a total of over 51.6 million visitors who came to marvel at futuristic exhibits, international displays, and cultural showcases.
The fairgrounds were expansive and carefully organized into three primary park themes: the Industrial (or Commercial) area, which featured massive pavilions sponsored by major American corporations displaying cutting-edge technology and consumer goods; the International area, where dozens of foreign nations showcased their unique heritages, architecture, and cuisine; and the Lake Amusement area, designed to offer thrilling rides, live entertainment, and recreational fun for families. Together, these diverse zones allowed fairgoers to experience a blend of global diplomacy, corporate imagination, and lighthearted leisure all in one location.
Among the countless exhibits and pavilions, three standout attractions captured the public’s imagination and became defining symbols of the event. The General Motors “Futurama” ride was an overwhelming favorite, taking visitors on a slow-moving, imaginative journey through future landscapes of jungles, oceans, and urban centers. Disney’s “It’s a Small World” boat ride—created for the Pepsi-Cola/UNICEF exhibit—became a runaway historical success with its charming audio-animatronic figures. Finally, the Vatican Pavilion drew massive, block-long lines to view Michelangelo’s Pietà, which was shipped securely from Rome and encased in bulletproof glass for millions of awestruck spectators.i