The Changing Face of Flushing Meadow Park, 1961-1962

A series of aerial photographs published in the New York World's Fair Corporations' Progress Reports, show the changes in Flushing Meadow Park between 1961 and 1963 as it was transformed into Fairgrounds.

January 16, 1961

Flushing Meadow is still very much a park in this photograph taken in late summer, 1960. The partially completed ("H" shaped) Administration Building in the lower left-hand corner of the picture is the only visible sign that a World's Fair is about to overtake the park.
Aerial, January 16, 1961

May 8, 1961

Early spring, 1961. The Administration Building now seems to be completed. No other visible signs of progress can be seen as yet.
Aerial, May 8, 1961

September 14, 1961

Summer, 1961. The first signs of construction have begun to appear. Although the Flushing River still runs completely through the park, roadways which will outline the massive "Pool of Industry" are beginning to appear. One of the first projects undertaken by the Fair Corporation was to "bury" the Flushing River in underground conduits in order to gain additional acerage of exhibit space in the Industrial Area of the Fair (see page six). In the process, the oval-shaped "Lagoon of Nations" of the 1939/1940 World's Fair would become the 670-foot diameter "Pool of Industry."
Aerial, September 14, 1961

January 17, 1962

This photograph, taken in late autumn of 1961 shows continuing work on the "Pool of Industry." The circular shape of the pool is now fully outlined. The park itself is beginning to show the scars of construction as multiple dirt paths begin to criss-cross the site.
Aerial, January 17, 1962

May 17, 1962

This photograph appears to have been taken in late winter or very early spring, 1962. The circular area that would become the site of the Federal Pavilion, Kennedy Circle, is beginning to take shape to the left and across the tracks from the Administration Building.
Aerial, May 17, 1962

September 12, 1962

By the summer of 1962 construction of the Fair was fully underway. Many temporary paths cross the former park. This photograph shows the beginning of pavilion construction. The circular foundation of the General Electric Pavilion can now be seen rising at the lower right of the "Pool of Industry." To the left of the pool can be seen the foundation work for the Gas Companies Pavilion. Across the Grand Central Parkway, in the lower portion of the photograph, foundation work is underway for the General Motors Pavilion and the site of the Ford Pavilion is being cleared. Above and to the right of the Grand Central Parkway, site work is underway for the New York State Pavilion as well.

Aerial, September 12, 1962

SOURCE: New York World's Fair Progress Reports No. 1 - 6, 1961 and 1962

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