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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.
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January 16, 1961
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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.
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May 8, 1961
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Early
spring, 1961. The Administration Building now seems to be completed.
No other visible signs of progress can be seen as yet.
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September 14,
1961
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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."
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January 17, 1962
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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.
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May 17, 1962
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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.
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September 12,
1962
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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.
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SOURCE: New York World's
Fair Progress Reports No. 1 - 6, 1961 and 1962
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