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Pool of Industry at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair

Construction

Construction Photographs

Winter '61/'62 Shot

Winter (top) 1961/1962 and Spring (bottom) 1962 construction shots show the old course of the Flushing River as it cut through the Fairgrounds. By Spring, the outline of the pool is beginning to take shape.

SOURCE: (top) N.Y. World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #4 - January 17, 1962

Spring '62 Shot

Winter (top) 1961/1962 and Spring (bottom) 1962 construction shots show the old course of the Flushing River as it cut through the Fairgrounds. By Spring, the outline of the pool is beginning to take shape.

SOURCE: (bottom) N.Y. World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #5 - May 17, 1962

Fountain Planners/Designers

Inspecting construction for the Fountain of the Planets are Gilmore D. Clark, Sam Hamel, William E. Whipple and Robert Langer.

SOURCE: New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #9 - September 26, 1963

Summer '63 Shot

By late summer of 1963, the intricate piping has been installed.

SOURCE: New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #9 - September 26, 1963

Model of Fountain of the Planets

Models prepared to study the layout and operation of the Fountain of the Planets in the Pool of Industry. The many pipes and floodlights were created in miniature. To right is full size of one floodlight unit with its sliding color filters. In the model above, each small box is a floodlight unit, demonstrating the size of the final spectacular production.

SOURCE: New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #8 - April 22, 1963

Floodlight Unit

Floodlight unit with sliding color filters.

SOURCE: New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation Progress Report #8 - April 22, 1963

Pipes and Units installed

Fountain of the Planets
The largest and most spectacular of the Fair's nine fountains is this one. The island parts of the Fountain of the Planets, located in the Pool of Industry, offer an automated display of water, music, lights, and fireworks. Pneumatic butterfly valves help vary water jet heights, and nozzles and headers can be moved pneumatically or electrically to achieve various effects. Lamps are in water-tight boxes equipped with rotatable dichronic color filters.

SOURCE: Consulting Engineer Magazine - (Courtesy of Bill Cotter)

Block of Pipes and Units with Screens

SOURCE: Consulting Engineer Magazine - (Courtesy of Bill Cotter)