1964 World’s Fair Model
This wonderful model of the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, NY can be found on an elevator in the Queens Museum of Art. The last close-up shows the flag for the Minnesota pavilion. I just finished reading an article by Adam Hjorthen in the current issue of Minnesota History magazine regarding the Minnesota pavilion’s lackluster debut. Unfortunately the article is not on line but here is a quote: “…the quality of the pavilion’s exhibits was harshly criticized, in particular by the Twin Cities press. The Minneapolis Tribune headlined its front page on June 4, 1964, ‘Fair Pavilion Embarasses Minnesotans,’ and went on to describe the exhibit as ‘inadequate, inappropriate, chaotic, cheap, filthy, and…embarrassing.’” Hjorthen’s article details the subsequent efforts made to spruce up the place with the Kensington Runestone and some questionable interpretation of history. Anyway, I wish this model were in my home.
