It’s one of the most iconic and enduring symbols in Queens—the 12-story, stainless steel Unisphere, funded and built by U.S. Steel for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. “Peace Through Understanding” was the Fair’s theme back then… Let’s all hope that idea is still with us. (What do you think?)
Despite all the techie wonders of last weekend’s Maker Faire, the old Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is what blew Jean away. (No, those “Fountains of the Fairs” aren’t why it’s called Flushing.)
Great flocks of birds continually orbit the Unisphere.
Kids frolic on one of the last warm afternoons of the year. (Video below.) If “Peace Through Understanding” is a long time coming, at least we’ve found “Peace Through Playing in Water.” L’shanah tovah.
2 Geeks @ 3 Knots 
I was at that World’s Fair, as a child. You’ve brought back a wonderful memory. Your images are so ethereal too, with their soft colors, what a nice way to depict endurance.
Hi, Jann. We would LOVE to hear about your childhood memories of that Fair!!! We went with our friend Ivy, a toy inventor—she was also there, at age 4, with vivid memories of the event. Did you live in NY? What do you recall?
BTW, thank you SO MUCH for the “follow”(ding ding ding ding !!! You are Number 100, hurray!)
All the best, Jean & Alex
Sad to say I recalled very little after “It’s a Small World After All” pounded its way into my 11-year-old brain on an endless repeat cycle. Recently, though, on a trip to Texas’ Dinosaur Valley State Park (yes, this truly exists!! Here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/dinosaur-valley), I discovered that two of the 1964 World’s Fair life-size dinosaurs had found a permanent home there. Regrettably, they were actually just replicas. Still, I photographed them. With my iPhone’s Panorama function.
Hee hee! Funny, I just wrote you a note about our cave, and you bring up dinosaurs 🙂 That sounds like quite a (jurassic) park! Was it your actual destination, or were you passing through? Oh, you’re so right about that awful song, BTW. Now it’s going through MY head, arrrggghhhh!
Really nice photos – such soft colors – and the video, too. Isn’t it great to watch kids play in fountains? I love that. Peace Through Understanding. A long way off, apparently. I reveal my age if I tell you I went to that World’s Fair…we had moved to NJ from western NY so it was an easy day trip. I loved it – I remember being really excited by all the different cultures represented in the exhibits.
Thanks, Lyn. Yeah, we got a kick out of the kids playing in the fountains—right on cue, too! We’re starting to feel like the only folks who missed that Fair (we existed, but lived nowhere near). Did you happen to click on the link in the post, at mention of the fair? I goes to an amazing blogger’s exploration of the fairgrounds, now and then — he’s a Disney imagineer– with lots of then/now pics and little-known historical info, some of it controversial. I think you’d enjoy it.
Be well. We’re enjoying your blog very much!!
Just read the comment above – wish I had more specific memories, but I think that’s it – just the general thrill of being exposed to different ways and cultures and sights. I guess I was about 14.
By far outstanding memory is the Lowenbrau Beer Gardens, blonde beer maids bearing many mugs. Alas, too young to partake, a few years shy of 18 at the time.
🙂 Do you recall the Bel-Gem waffles? (Belgian, but a typo renamed them, LOL). Thanks for the visit, Michael!
I do now. More vividly recall the Tab sampled at Coca Cola, immediate headache and vow to forswear low-cal potations.
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