1939
New York World's Fair

An Immediate Appeal to Save
the 1964 New York State Pavilion
July 2007

The first floor area as shown on the cover used by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Because of this, New York City would be an ideal place for a World's Fair museum, and having a museum is a goal that our organization has. The World's Fair Historical Society proposes that we use the Mezzanine level for a permanent museum on International Expositions, displaying exhibits in a chronological order, from the first world's fair in London in 1851 to present times, in the city that was home to our country's first.

The 1964 level of the towers with a panel that shows what the view would have looked like during the Fair. We envision the panel being 360 degrees, running around the tower so visitors would get the entire view.


The mezzanine as a World's Fair Museum.

Again, we emphasize that the first step before any proposal is considered is that of SAVING THE BUILDING, which needs to be done as soon as possible.

With strong hope that this building can be saved,

Presented by The World's Fair Historical Society
5806 119th Avenue SE, Suite A,
Bellevue, WA 98006
www.crystalpalace51.org

(303) 522-5014

A Proposal for the Future once it is saved.

Presented by The World's Fair Historical Society

5806 119th Avenue SE, Suite A,
Bellevue, WA 98006 www.crystalpalace51.org
Artist: Steve Lowtwait, www.campsteve.com.

June 18, 2007

The World's Fair Historical Society believes the New York State Pavilion, designed by the famous architect Philip Johnson, should be saved. Unfortunately, it has been allowed to deteriorate and its future has been mired in proposals, none of which so far have seemed to be the right answer for the structure.

Because of this, we, as a nonprofit 501c3 organization, offer two things to New York City residents:

First, LET'S GET IT SAVED, and under protected status, and worry about what should be done with it after that step has been taken. The New York State Parks Department told us that it is eligible for protected status. We urge officials of New York City and New York City Residents to push for this as soon as possible.

(left) The New York State Pavilion during the 1964-1965 World's Fair. (right) the dome of the New York State Pavilion.

Then, once that has been done, the World's Fair Historical Society offers its; own proposal that has been drawn up around the question of how can we best support and benefit the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation with the building's renovation?

Our Basic idea is simple:

1. Name it the Philip Johnson Center after the late architect.
2. Restore it to exactly the way it was.
3. Dedicate the first floor level for use by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, with their own exhibits telling people about the city's various parks, their role in maintaining those parks, and information related to that. They could also invite various exhibitors, festivals, and events, as they deemed appropriate for use of that level as well.
4. Restore all of the towers, with one change: One of the two highest levels would be called the 1964 level, the other the 1939 level. At each of these levels a panel would run along the inside of the railing that would have a 360 degree picture of what the view looked like in that year, during that World's Fair, from the tower. The panel would have a legend stating which buildings the visitors are looking at. This would give people a sense of the history not only of the New York State Pavilion but of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park as well.
5. With the Mezzanine level, we see a historical purpose. Most New Yorkers are aware of the two world's fairs held in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, but few are aware of the fact that New York City was home to America's first world's fair, held in 1853. It was in what is now Bryant Park, next to the main branch of the New York City Public Library.