World's Faire.

[SanFranciscan]

We have a number of really neat things left over from previous world faires, from Disneyland's still-popular It's A Small World ride to San Francisco's Treasure Island and Seattle's Space Needle. Are there any world faires still going on? There sure isn't much publicity for them if there are. Has anyone here ever gone to a world faire?

 

[Kycha]

I went to the '82 World's Fair in Knoxville, TN. And yes, the World's Fair is still going on. Though, the last time it was in the US was New Orleans in 1984.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_(exhibition

 

[laurie31]

Wow - I went to the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville too! They still have the sunsphere from it there.

I'd love to take my kids to a World's Fair someday. It was a neat experience.

 

[mill4023]

I went to Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC. I was 15 and I remember thinking it was very cool. I especially remember the Egyptian exhibit with all kinds of ancient artifacts.

Looks like the US and Canada hosted a lot of these up until the 1980's. I wonder why it's been so long since we had one.

 

[INDISMOM]

Wow - I went to the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville too! They still have the sunsphere from it there.

I'd love to take my kids to a World's Fair someday. It was a neat experience.

I didn't go to the World's Fair, but my grandparents lived near Knoxville and got me and my sister sets of McDonald's glasses that had the Sunsphere on them!

We both still have them in boxes somewhere!

 

[tazdev3225]

I went to the 1964 World's Fair in NY. I was 8 y/o and can still remember tiding It'a a Small World. I drive my family crazy because that is the first ride for me every time I do to WDW. I remember the other things but not as much as IASW.

 

[Imzadi]

I went to the 1964 World's Fair in NY. I was 8 y/o and can still remember tiding It'a a Small World. I drive my family crazy because that is the first ride for me every time I do to WDW. I remember the other things but not as much as IASW.

I was there too! I was tiny at the time. All I remember is the huge metal Expo globe.

I think we also went to the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal, as I also remember a huge metal & glass Expo globe - I think it was the biosphere.

 

[eh24fan]

I went to the Knoxville World's Fair too! I was 8 at the time and don't remember much about it except that I was with my grandparents and we got all of the boys in our family these beanie hats with the spinny things on top. LOL And I remember the gold ball thing too.

 

[SanFranciscan]

I went to Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC. I was 15 and I remember thinking it was very cool. I especially remember the Egyptian exhibit with all kinds of ancient artifacts.

Looks like the US and Canada hosted a lot of these up until the 1980's. I wonder why it's been so long since we had one.

I have never been to a World's Faire. I am fascinated by what I don't know.

I suspect that the reason that they are not being hosted in the U.S. anymore is that so many local governments are feeling broke. Everybody wants to get a piece of the tourist action, of course. Yet what local government wants to foot the bill for something no doubt expensive? The local residents who do not own businesses likely to be patronized by faire-goers probably hate the idea of hosting a world's faire.

 

[disney1990]

Wow - I went to the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville too! They still have the sunsphere from it there.

I'd love to take my kids to a World's Fair someday. It was a neat experience.

Wow, there's a lot of us. DH & I went to the Knoxville World's Fair.

I also went to the Montreal World's Fair -- with my parents.

 

[Meriweather]

I went to Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC. I was 15 and I remember thinking it was very cool. I especially remember the Egyptian exhibit with all kinds of ancient artifacts.

Looks like the US and Canada hosted a lot of these up until the 1980's. I wonder why it's been so long since we had one.

We spent a few days at Expo 86 too

 

[maelstrom]

My mom went to the '64-'65 World's Fair in New York City several times; she lived in Queens and it was easy for her to get to. She also went to Expo '67 in Montreal.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Never been...never knew much about them. What is different about them than a regular fair, out of curiousity? Sounds cool

 

[Kycha]

Wow - I went to the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville too! They still have the sunsphere from it there.

I'd love to take my kids to a World's Fair someday. It was a neat experience.

I remember that! Thanks for posting the picture. My Dad took my Mom to the 64 World's Fair in NYC on one of their first dates. I know I have pictures somewhere. I will try to find them and post them.

Never been...never knew much about them. What is different about them than a regular fair, out of curiousity? Sounds cool

Think of Epcot's World Showcase. But on a much grander scale. Actually, Epcot was originally intended to be a permanent World's Fair.

 

[sue1013]

I was 6 when I went to the NY world's fair. The only things I remember was small world, carousel of progress and the giant Sinclair Dinosaur. At least it was giant to a 6 year old.

 

[maelstrom]

I was 6 when I went to the NY world's fair. The only things I remember was small world, carousel of progress and the giant Sinclair Dinosaur. At least it was giant to a 6 year old.

My mom remembers the Sinclair dinosaur too. My mom would've been 8 in 1964, so in your same age group.

 

[tazdev3225]

I was 6 when I went to the NY world's fair. The only things I remember was small world, carousel of progress and the giant Sinclair Dinosaur. At least it was giant to a 6 year old.

This ast October was the first time I went on COP. Now I know why it seemed so familiar. I do remember the dinosaur and thought it was awesome. As I stated in a previous post IASW was my favorite though. My mom even took me on it twice because I loved it so much.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I live in Knoxville, and was 9 when the World's Fair was going on. I remember just a little bit...I only went once or twice b/c it was so expensive. There were pavillions for different countries...I remember the German pavillion with the beer-cooked hotdogs, and shows at the Japanese pavillion.

I think the pp who mentioned cost hit the nail on the head. Other than the Sunsphere, and World's Fair park...nothing remains from the World's Fair. The pavillions got run down, and it cost the city lots of money to either fix them up or tear them down. They tore them down (the last to go was the US pavillion) b/c no one wanted to rent or use it after the fair.

It brought a lot of money to our area in 1982, but then after that became a big money sink. Thankfully, the land is now used for concerts, and there is a nice fountain park for the kids. The country flags and the Sunsphere are the only fair reminders. And the Sunsphere stood empty and unused for a long time...it is just now being renovated, and I hope to take my kids up to see if from the inside.

Anyways...I'm rambling. But just my take on the fair.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I live in Knoxville, and was 9 when the World's Fair was going on. I remember just a little bit...I only went once or twice b/c it was so expensive. There were pavillions for different countries...I remember the German pavillion with the beer-cooked hotdogs, and shows at the Japanese pavillion.

I think the pp who mentioned cost hit the nail on the head. Other than the Sunsphere, and World's Fair park...nothing remains from the World's Fair. The pavillions got run down, and it cost the city lots of money to either fix them up or tear them down. They tore them down (the last to go was the US pavillion) b/c no one wanted to rent or use it after the fair.

It brought a lot of money to our area in 1982, but then after that became a big money sink. Thankfully, the land is now used for concerts, and there is a nice fountain park for the kids. The country flags and the Sunsphere are the only fair reminders. And the Sunsphere stood empty and unused for a long time...it is just now being renovated, and I hope to take my kids up to see if from the inside.

Anyways...I'm rambling. But just my take on the fair.

so...world fairs build more permanent structures, as opposed to county fairs where it's easier to tear down?

And...are ya'll saying they had IASW at world fairs?? Wow.. who had it first?

I guess I never knew what world fairs were all about.. .now I'd like to go!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

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