1964: When the world flocked to Flushing

This 400-square-foot model of the New York World’s Fair was unveiled in New York on Jan. 28, 1964. The walk-around model was opened to the public on the fifth floor of Macy’s Department Store at Herald Square.

Robert Moses, president of the fair, stands at microphone in background and next to him is David L. Yunich, president of Macy’s New York. Moses told the gathering of businessmen and newsmen that the fair will open on schedule in April and that 70 million persons will attend before it closes.

By the end of the two six month long seasons of the exhibition, over 51 million people had attended.

1964 World's Fair

Replica of the Santa Maria, built in a Barcelona, Spain, shipyard, moves on a flatbed trailer through Flushing, New York on Jan. 26, 1964 en route to her mooring at the Santa Maria exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. The vessel is 38 feet high and will be outfitted with four masts and other equipment. The vessel is 90 feet long and weighs 80 tons. It has a 25 foot beam.

1964 World's Fair

This photo shows the 1964 World's Fair site in Flushing, Queens in New York on April 19, 1964. The unisphere in the center of the water fountain is the symbol of the fair.

The theme was "Peace Through Understanding", dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe." In the background is the Manhattan skyline.

1964 World's Fair

Lesley Gore, 17-year-old recording star, signed a contract to appear at the World’s Fair, in New York on March 13, 1964. She opened the Teen Carnival on April 22. Joe Glaser, head of Associated Booking, left, provides desk space, while Dr. Henry P. Wager, of Montclair, N.J. looks smilingly on. Wager is the founder of Teen Carnival.

1964 World's Fair

For Heidi Galaniuk’s upswept hairdo, the hair is intertwined with a scale model of the glass tower which will be exhibited in Ford Motor Company’s Wonder Rotunda at the New York World’s Fair, March 27, 1964. The glass tower is made of auto windshields, air vents, windows and emerald-like gleanings from the base of a glass furnace.

1964 World's Fair

Japanese girls train in Tokyo to be hostesses at Japan’s pavilion at New York World’s Fair April 1, 1964. Michiko Sudo, hair and make up instructor, puts finishing touches to coiffure of Masae Ito while Kanako Ito looks on.

1964 World's Fair

Donna Anderson of Beloit, Wisc., plays the ukulele at Kennedy Airport in New York to welcome, left to right, Lilian Wong, of Hong Kong, Claire Desmarais, Montreal, and Daisy Ho, Hong Kong, to the United States, April 12, 1964. All four worked as “penfriend consultants” at the New York World’s Fair exchange of a pen company.

1964 World's Fair

Teddy Polchak of Bronx, N.Y., a visitor at the New York World’s Fair on May 2, 1964, only appears to be losing his hero sandwich to the dinosaur in background. The slight-of-lens was accomplished outside the Sinclair exhibit on the fair grounds where life-size models of the extinct reptiles are a principal attraction.

1964 World's Fair

From right, Michigan Governor George Romney, his wife Lenore, daughter Lynn and son Mitt walk along a street at the World's Fair en route to the General Motors Pavilion in the Queens borough of New York, May 18, 1964.

1964 World's Fair

Italian director Federico Fellini and wife, Giulietta Masina, put hand prints in Hollywood Pavilion cement at the New York World’s Fair on April 22, 1964.

1964 World's Fair

Actress Shirley MacLaine in New York subway on way to World's Fair for premiere of her picture "What A Way to Go," May 13, 1964.

1964 World's Fair

Policemen try to remove civil rights protesters from entrance to a car of the New York flushing line in Jackson heights section of New York City, April 22, 1964. Youths attempted to stall the train which was headed to the World's Fair in Queens.

1964 World's Fair

New York police carry James Farmer, national director for the Congress of Racial Equality, from in front of the New York City pavilion at the New York World's Fair, April 22, 1964. Farmer was among demonstrators sitting down in the entrance of the building protesting alleged civil rights abuses in the city.

1964 World's Fair

The Swiss sky ride at the New York World’s Fair on April 23, 1964.

1964 World's Fair

A surrey topped wagon drawn by six horses from the Montana exhibit moves past the Unisphere during Montana Day ceremonies at the World’s Fair in New York on April 24, 1964. Gov. Tim Babcock participated in the dedication of the Montana exhibit.