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Unisphere at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair

World's Fair Information Manual

EXHIBIT

  • The official theme center of the
  • New York World's Fair 1964-1965

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

  • Mr. Phelps H. Adams
  • Vice President - Public Relations
  • The United States Steel Corp.
  • 71 Broadway
  • New York 6, N.Y.
  • DI 4-9000

ERECTED BY

  • American Bridge Division
  • The United States Steel Corp.
  • 525 William Penn Place
  • Pittsburgh 30, Pa.
  • EX 1-2345

LOCATION

  • Theme Center

AREA

  • 90,796 Sq. Ft.

HEIGHT

  • 135 ft+

DIAMETER

  • 120 ft., tilted from the
  • vertical 23-1/2 degrees

AGREEMENT SIGNED

  • February 14, 1961

PRESENTED BY

  • The United States Steel Corp.

FOUNDATION and LANDSCAPE

  • Clarke & Rapuano
Unisphere line drawing

SOURCE: 1964 World's Fair Information Manual

FEATURES

The theme symbol of the New York 1964-1965 World's Fair is a massive armillary sphere, know as UNISPHERE, sybolizing man's perpetual search for truth and his absolute need of peace through understanding. It represents the Earth with the Continents in raised outline and with surrounding orbits. The sphere, built of stainless steel and presented by the United States Steel Corporation, will be a permanent feature of Flushing Meadow Park.

The Continents and principal islands of the Earth, executed in stainless steel mesh, will be superimposed on the sphere with mountains pressed into relief in exaggerated projection to give the effect of visual reality. Glass lenses with cut facets will illuminate the location of various capital cities, while lights behind each lens will flash at intervals. At night the sphere will be flood-lighted from a sufficient distance to bathe the continents in light, giving an effect of mystery and movement.