The Incredible World’s Fair Site In New York That Has Been Left In Ruins

The New York State Pavilion in Queens is one of the most iconic landmarks in all of New York City. But some of the landmarks of the pavilion, which were created for the 1964 New York World's Fair, have been slowly turned into ruins. It's truly a sight to behold, and to learn more, keep reading!

The New York State Pavilion was designed by the architect Philip Johnson for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. It is located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.

A lot of the World’s Fair pavilions were not permanent, and were destroyed less than a year after the fair closed. There were a few, though, that have remained—although they have seen better days.

The pavilion contains three towers whose design was, at the time, quite space age. Now it feels a bit like a crumbling space shuttle. The tallest one has an observation deck that used to be able to be accessed by an outdoor elevator. There was also a “Tent of Tomorrow” that was 100 feet high.

Before it was the site of the 1939 New York Worlds Fair, the land was the site of the Corona Ash Dumps, which some might know as the “valley of ashes” in “The Great Gatsby.” Though the design of the park dates back to 1939, the landmarks that are now turning into ruins come from the 1964 fair.

After the fair, the pavilion turned into a roller skating rink, but that closed by 1974. Since then, some of these structures have played a role in the background of some classic movies—the park is even part of the plot of the original “Men In Black” movie.

Though The New York State Pavilion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and though the exterior of the pavilion has been cleaned up a bit, its structures are weathered, their best days behind them. Or at least, we think. You never know!

For those in New York, we think it's worth checking out these pseudo-ruins of the 1964 New York World's Fair. While in Queens, why not also check out some of the best Chinese food in America? And for those looking for a place to stay in New York City, we recommend Homewood Suites Midtown Manhattan.