Welcome to the Fair!
“The Fair aims to be universal, to have something for everyone. What is it you want? Vast forces dormant in nuggets of imprisoned sunlight? Machines that fly, think, transport, fashion and do mans work? Spices, perfumes, ivory, apes and peacocks? Dead Sea Scrolls? Images divine and graven? Painted lilies and refined gold? The products of philosophy, which is the guide of life, and knowledge, which is power? We have them all.”
“The Fair aims to be universal, to have something for everyone. What is it you want? Vast forces dormant in nuggets of imprisoned sunlight? Machines that fly, think, transport, fashion and do mans work? Spices, perfumes, ivory, apes and peacocks? Dead Sea Scrolls? Images divine and graven? Painted lilies and refined gold? The products of philosophy, which is the guide of life, and knowledge, which is power? We have them all.”
"Study the fair. Come often. When you get here, don’t rush. Be wise. Space your visits, save your arches, spare your muscles, use your head; patronize buses, rolling stock, rides, ramps and escalators; spot the oases and cultivate repose in the midst of multifarious activities."
"We welcome you to the Fair.”
-Robert Moses
The Mormon Pavilion – A striking pavilion, dominated by an artificial cloud visible at great distance, hovering around the three towers. Ever blooming gardens with small circular pools and shaded by poplars and willows. A popular rest stop.
The pavilion was originally constructed in such a way that parts could be used later in a meetinghouse in the New York area. When the World's Fair ended in 1965, after approximately 51/2 million people had toured the Pavilion, the 36 concrete panels that comprised the Pavilion walls, each weighing about 12 tons, were moved to the current site in Plainview for construction of a meetinghouse. This is how it looks today.
New York State Pavilion– Looming over the New York State pavilion are the three observation towers, one of which was the tallest structure at the fair at 226 feet. Ride the speedy “Sky Streak” capsule elevator to the tallest tower and on a clear day you can see New Jersey.
Tent of Tomorrow – Beneath the towers is the Tent of Tomorrow, the world’s biggest suspension roof supported by 16 100 foot concrete columns. Translucent colored panels in the roof flood the interior with colors.
General Foods Information Arches - Eleven giant "Archways To Understanding" straddle the roadways at strategic locations throughout the Fairgrounds. Special bulletins on significant local, national and international news are flashed on the message panels. A constant flow of facts about happenings on and off the Fairgrounds is transmitted 15 hours each day.
Today, one of the arches stands at the entrance to a strip mall in Hempstead.
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