40 The Queens Courier • APRIL 24, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com NYS Pavilion recognized as a ‘National Treasure’ on World’s Fair anniversary By Liam La Guerre country, would help attract funds — estimated at [email protected]/@liamlaguerre $43 million — to save it. “For a long time the future of this building was The New York State Pavilion, a surviving a question mark,” said Paul Goldberger, a board relic of the 1964-65 World’s Fair, was named a member of the nonprofit group. “But in time it will “National Treasure” by the National Trust for not be a question mark at all, I think it will be a different Historic Preservation on the 50th anniversary of piece of punctuation. It will be a great exclamation the opening of the famed event. point in the middle of a resurgent Queens.” Following the recognition on April 22, the In its heyday, the Pavilion featured the Tent Parks Department opened the Pavilion to the of Tomorrow, three towers and the Theaterama, public for the first time in decades. The Pavilion which is now the nearby Queens Theatre. When recently received a fresh coat of paint from the it was constructed, the Tent of Tomorrow had a advocacy group New York State Pavilion Paint $1 million map of New York State on its floor, Project Crew, but its space-like structures have made of 567 mosaic panels weighing 400 pounds rusted over and it is in need of repair. The hope is each and colorful stained glass panels on its ceiling. that the designation, which puts it among nearly Two of the towers had cafeterias for the fair, 40 other historic places and buildings around the while the tallest, which stands at 226 feet, was used as an observation deck. “It’s not what it was,” said Elaine Goldstein of Howard Beach, who visited both 1939-40 and 1964-65 World’s Fairs. “It’s hurtful to see that it went into disrepair.” Thousands of people from all walks of life, many of whom had a connection to the Pavilion, walked through the gates with hard hats to tour the aged structure. “This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Natali Bravo, a resident from Rego Park, who was shooting pictures of the Pavilion with a 1964 Kodak World’s Fair Camera. “This is the first time I’m actually setting foot in here. To actually be photographing this event the way it was meant to be photographed with this camera is a very special thing.” THE COURIER/Photos by Liam La Guerre The New York State Pavilion was named a “National Treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
QC04242014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above