World's Faire.

[BeachGirlFLA]

My dad went to the 1958 one in Brussels when he was in the military and the Seattle one when he worked for Boeing. He has a lot of cool pictures.

 

[Chuck S]

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!!

The 1964 World's Fair debuted 4 Disney designed attractions. All of which found there way, in some form or fashion to Disneyland.

It's a Small World was sponsored by Unicef.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was sponsored by the State of Illinois.

Ford Motor Company sponsored the Magic Skyway, the dinosaurs from that attraction became the "Primeval World" tableau on the Disneyland railroad. It also served as a test for the Omnimover ride system (Haunted Mansion, Adv. through Inner Space, etc.)

And General Electric, of course, sponsored "Progressland" AKA the Carousel of Progress.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

The 1964 World's Fair debuted 4 Disney designed attractions. All of which found there way, in some form or fashion to Disneyland.

It's a Small World was sponsored by Unicef.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was sponsored by the State of Illinois.

Ford Motor Company sponsored the Magic Skyway, the dinosaurs from that attraction became the "Primeval World" tableau on the Disneyland railroad.

And General Electric, of course, sponsored "Progressland" AKA the Carousel of Progress.

very cool...

Carousel of Progress is a family favorite... and I didnt' even 'find' the ride until 2 trips ago!!

 

[Chuck S]

We have some remnants of the 1968 World's Fair in San Antonio (AKA Hemisfair '68).

The Tower of the Americas is the most noted.

But other permanent buildings included the US Pavilion, which now serves as a federal courthouse, the Texas Pavilion which became the Institute of Texas Cultures, the extended San Antonio Riverwalk, which still provides sightseeing boats and water taxis, and many smaller walking trails and buildings became La Villita. The original parking structure was stillinuse until a couple of years ago, when it was torn down to make way for a new hotel..and the Palacio del Rio hotel (which was built using the same technology of slide-in rooms as the Contempory Resort) is still in operation.

 

[Kycha]

We have some remnants of the 1968 World's Fair in San Antonio (AKA Hemisfair '68).

The Tower of the Americas is the most noted.

But other permanent buildings included the US Pavilion, which now serves as a federal courthouse, the Texas Pavilion which became the Institute of Texas Cultures, the extended San Antonio Riverwalk, which still provides sightseeing boats and water taxis, and many smaller walking trails and buildings became La Villita. The original parking structure was stillinuse until a couple of years ago, when it was torn down to make way for a new hotel..and the Palacio del Rio hotel (which was built using the same technology of slide-in rooms as the Contempory Resort) is still in operation.

I had no idea the Tower of the Americas was a remnant of a World's Fair. I got to see it a couple years ago when my DBrother graduated basic training at Lackland AFB.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I have never been to one. But I have a collection of 1893 chicago's columbian exposition tickets just like these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-SET-10-189...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1205|293:1|294:50

and a 42" wide litho of all the attractions. someday to be displayed on my office wall.

Mikeeee

 

[wdwfam]

DH and I went to the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair too! I remember the long lines at the Chinese Pavilion. Brings back some good memories. I'm sure we have some of those souvenir glasses too.

 

[disney1990]

DH and I went to the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair too! I remember the long lines at the Chinese Pavilion. Brings back some good memories. I'm sure we have some of those souvenir glasses too.

Yes, I remember those long lines. I have a souvenir pickle pin from Knoxville.

 

[barkley]

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?

to some extent those of us that live in the spokane area continue going to a world's fair to this day.

the site that was created for the 1974 world's fair up here is pretty much the hub for fair like activities year round. we still have the outdoor ice rink which is set up every winter(in the summer months it houses fair type rides), the carousel is a HUGE draw (just celebrated it's 100th anniversary last weekend and is stunning), it's a stunning property that the city has managed to maintain as a beautiful public park.

i agree that in today's economy it's probably too costly for individual cities to consider undertaking an event that would likely not get the draw it got in previous decades but then i look at those cities that hosted in the past and as a result were able to fund building projects that have benefited their residents for generations and in some cases become tourist draws to this day that's the case with our convention and performing arts centers, seattle's space needle and their monorail, and the palace of fine arts in san francisco. so in the long run it's been a benefit.