New York State Pavilion

The New York State Pavilion is a modernist structure in Flushing Meadows Corona Park with three slender observation towers and a circular theater building. The cable-supported roof spans the theater hall without central columns and rests on 16 pillars along the outer edge.

Architect Philip Johnson designed the structure for the 1964 World's Fair as a symbol of technical progress. After the fair ended the complex gradually decayed and today stands as a protected monument without regular use.

The three towers rise to different heights and recall the early space race rockets of the 1960s. The circular theater hall with its colored plastic panels under the roof originally displayed the regions of the state in bright shades.

The complex stands a short walk from the Unisphere and is accessible via Mets-Willets Point subway station on the 7 line. Entry is free and visitors can view the structure from outside and walk around the base of the towers.

The original transparent plastic roof panels are now completely gone and allow the sky to show through the steel cables. The tower tops served as observation platforms during the fair with elevators running inside the supporting columns.

Location: Queens

Part of: 1964 New York World's Fair

GPS coordinates: 40.74403,-73.84442

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25