Queens: The World's Borough

My newest tour is my 2.5-hour walking tour of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, in Queens. I grew up in Queens, and I would love to show visitors (or locals) what they are missing here.

Today, the park contains the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (current venue for the US Open); Citi Field (home of the NY Mets), the New York Hall of Science; the Queens Museum of Art; the Queens Theatre in the Park; the Queens Zoo; and the New York State Pavilion.

Besides all of that, and in addition to being larger in acreage than Central Park, Flushing Meadows' history reshaped Queens and New York as a whole. It was created for the 1939 World's Fair by infamous 20th century urban planner Robert Moses. The roadways that today connect Queens (and NYC in general) to Long Island were largely shaped by this project. One building from that Fair later became the first home of the United Nations, and still stands today. The park also housed the more famous 1964 World's Fair, many of the icons of which remain to this day, including the Unisphere.

The 1964 World's Fair took place in the mid-point of a tumultuous decade that was filled early on with discovery, optimism, and vision for the future. Its skyway attraction took visitors over countless pavilions, including those for General Motors, IBM, Westinghouse Pavilion, Dinoland, the Ford Motor Company, and countries from around the world. Walt Disney himself helped create numerous attractions for the fair that eventually made their way into his parks, including It's A Small World, the Carousel of Progress, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It is this Fair that gave Disney the vision for a project that later become the Epcot theme park in Florida.

What's still there from the Fair(s) and what is only there in memory and legacy? This is one of the key things we explore in this tour. I believe this is a fun & easy tour for visitors of all ages.

Interested? Contact me for a custom date around your schedule.