Artist's rendering of the West Virginia Pavilion. This exhibit will incorporate the myriad attractions which have made this State famous. A Radio Astronomy Sky exhibit will illustrate Green Bank's contributions to research in outer space. Architects and engineers are Irving Bowman and Associates and Frederic P. Wiedersum Associates in cooperation with International Fair Consultants.
GROUNDBREAKING AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR 1964-1965
THE West Virginia Pavilion APRIL 29, 1963

SOURCE: Pavilion Groundbreaking Brochure, New York World's Fair Corporation

Excerpts from remarks made by World's Fair and West Virginia officials, and special guests at the State of West Virginia Pavilion groundbreaking ceremonies, New York World's Fair, Monday, April 29, 1963.

**Governor William Wallace Barron (left) and Commissioner of Commerce Hulett C. Smith officiate at the West Virginia groundbreaking ceremonies.**

GENERAL WILLIAM E. POTTER [Executive Vice President, New York World's Fair Corporation]: Early in the history of our Fair, we came in contact with a group called International Fair Consultants. The leader of that group is Dr. Leonard Stavinsky, who not only in the West Virginia exhibit but in other places including the Hall of Education, has shown that he has a great appreciation of World's Fairs.

DR. LEONARD P. STAVINSKY [Executive Vice President, International Fair Consultants, Inc.]: West Virginia has been fortunate in the site assigned to it by the World's Fair. Opposite the seventeen million dollar Federal Pavilion, which will be a focal area of attraction, stands the West Virginia Pavilion, occupying a plot of 34,409 sq. ft.

From the moment of entry into the pavilion, the visitor will feel himself transmitted to the environment of the State. Through guides, audio-visual aids, films, television, dioramas and life-like displays, the visitor will be carried to the very heart of the State, to Hawk's Nest, Blackwater Falls, Oglebay Park, Harpers Ferry, the State University, the museums, the industrial sites and the hundred-and-one major attractions for which this State is richly famous ...

GENERAL POTTER: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce to the Commissioner of Commerce, Hulett C. Smith.

HULETT C. SMITH [Commissioner of Commerce, State of West Virginia]: Nine days ago, on April 20th, 1963, the State of West Virginia observed a landmark of history -- the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation admitting West Virginia into the Union. This afternoon we observe another dramatic moment in the future of West Virginia, ushering in a new era of dynamic growth and greatness that is limited only by the imagination, the earnestness and the ingenuity of our people.

Joining Governor Barron in directing the start of construction are members of the Board of Public Works: (left to right) Joe F. Burdett, Secretary of State; Denzil L. Gainer, Auditor; Rex M. Smith, Superintendent of Schools; John H. Kelly, Treasurer.

This building, conceived as a dynamic showcase of industry, relaxation, art, science, government, education and the professions, is a source of family entertainment, a subject of State pride, a fountainhead for new ideas and a glimpse into the 21st century.

Since the establishment of the State Department of Commerce in 1961, we have been earnestly planning and building toward a future of West Virginia with new industry, new employment and new tourist attractions. The New York World's Fair provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to tell our story to the seventy million visitors who will come to the Fair ...

GENERAL POTTER: It is my great pleasure at this time to introduce Dr. Armand Sptiz, who has designed and built over 300 planetariums. With Dr. Harlow Shapley, he is serving to develop the Radio Astronomy Sky exhibit within the West Virginia Pavilion.

DR. ARMAND SPITZ [Consultant, Radio Astronomy Sky Exhibit]: This is a rather interesting opportunity to tell the story of the work that West Virginia is doing and will do in the future to advance not only West Virginia, but the knowledge and the understanding of the world with relation to the universe in which we live.

I am speaking on behalf of Dr. Harlow Shapley, the former director of the Harvard Observatory. He has been working with us since the very beginning in the planning of a demonstration which will help to make this West Virginia Pavilion sparkle.

A great many states will tell their stories at the World's Fair. West Virginia is going to be talking about something that is increasingly significant in the eyes of the scientific world -- the fact that it was selected as the site for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank.

The radio dishes at Green Bank represent one of the new tools of astronomy, one of the new implements which men have devised to reach out farther and farther into space, to penetrate the clouds which so frequently interfere with the optical astronomer. Developments in astronomy emanating from Green Bank are going to help us find the answers to still hidden secrets of the universe.

GENERAL POTTER: Dr. Spitz, my boss's great desire since this Fair was first thought of was a scientific exhibit that would show what you have just explained to us. I introduce to you Mr. Robert Moses, the president of the New York World's Fair.

MR. ROBERT MOSES: Some years ago we were trying to get a planetarium in New York, and there was a commission appointed by the governor to take various projects down to Washington to see if we could gouge some money out of the Reconstruction Finance Committee. We didn't have any money, be we did have great ambitions. I was very doubtful of my ability to accomplish anything down there, so I asked former Governor Smith if he would go along to Washington with me to talk with some of his friends on the RFC.

**Governor William Wallace Barron (right) presents West Virginia stemware to Robert Moses.**

I knew he was particularly friendly with Jesse Jones. So the Governor went down, and one of the projects we presented was the project planetarium for New York. Governor Smith presented this issue very appealingly and by that time we had presented eleven projects -- and by that time the RFC people were very tired. Later that day, Jesse Jones called the Governor to say that the planetarium project had been approved, and that's how we got our planetarium.

I'm delighted with the space and attention you are giving to this particular subject in your pavilion. I don't deprecate and I don't minimize the importance of the travel and scenery exhibits, but I think your Radio Astronomy Sky exhibit shows imagination, and that's what we need at the Fair. What you have here is a highly imaginative thing. Anyway, all I can add is that I'm delighted that you are here and that so many of you have shown your interest by coming here. Thank you.

GENERAL POTTER: Thank you Mr. Moses. I should now like to introduce The Honorable William Wallace Barron, Governor of the State of West Virginia.

THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALLACE BARRON [Governor, State of West Virginia]: I am pleased and gratified to be here today. I want to congratulate Mr. Moses and General Potter and their staff for the planning and construction of the New York World's Fair. I want to congratulate the people of New York City, the citizens of the State of New York, and the federal government for making the World's Fair possible.

Mr. Moses, on behalf of my people and myself, I accept this medallion with dignity, because in a sense it reflects the initiative of our people and the tremendous potential of the great State of West Virginia. Our pavilion, this lovely luncheon attended by distinguished people honoring West Virginia, and the great things that all of you have done for our State have inspired me as an individual and as Governor of the State of West Virginia.

And now, Mr. Moses, it is my privilege to present to you with the best wishes of all the people of the State of West Virginia some glassware made in West Virginia.

Mr. Moses, because you have been the inspiration for the West Virginia Pavilion, and because you are a distinguished American as reflected by your years of dedication as a public servant, it is my privilege to bestow upon you the title of Honorary Mountaineer, with all the ranks and privileges pertaining thereto. Because of the dealings that you have had with Jesse Jones and others, I am going to add another provision -- that you are entitled to Constitutional immunity from arrest while in the State of West Virginia.

General Potter, as Governor of the State of West Virginia, it is my privilege because of your service as an outstanding American and all the things as heretofore have been said about Mr. Moses, to bestow upon you the title of Honorary Mountaineer, with all the ranks and privileges pertaining thereto.

GENERAL POTTER: These have been wonderful festivities, and to close them on the proper note, and as I promised, the last word goes to the Bishop.

RIGHT REVEREND WILBURN C. CAMPBELL [Bishop, Episcopalian Church, diocese of West Virginia]: ... When I was a lad I was forced to study all about Moses, and how he led his children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and he said 'Let my people go.' And he built a highway across the Red Sea. I was a priest on Long Island when another Moses came to life, and said: 'I want to build an Interboro; I want to build a Grand Central Parkway; I want to build the Northern Parkway.' Mr. Moses, I bask in the sunlight of Jones Beach -- and you built it. For years, I've admired you, and now I'm privileged to be close to you and to have you pay tribute to West Virginia.

We, in West Virginia, may not be the richest, we may not be the biggest, be we are the freest -- and we love it -- every bit of our West Virginian mountains. So, let us ask God's blessing upon this.

Unto God's gracious mercy and protection, we commit ourselves. May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May he pour into our lives His love, His light, and His peace. That in His love we may not be lonely; in His light we may not be lost. Amen.