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    The Unisphere

    4.8 (84 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 9:00 AM (Next day)

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    Chunjai K.

    The Unisphere represent illustrates, symbolizes and embodies man's achievements on a shrinking globe in an expanding universe. I just know now even I have been living in New York for over decades. I love going to the park that is in local resident area. Corona Park is big and has lot of history. Seems to have less people goes to visit. Very quiet and left me vibe of the Japanese manga "20th Century boys" If you are a fan of that cartoon, you will know what I'm talking about, LOL. So attractive and mystery. When, I have friend or family visit me in NY. I prefer to take them there after complete checking point from Manhattan.

    Montage of images from The Unisphere
    Ed U.

    Unless you count flying into LaGuardia, it's rather surprising how little I've explored Queens considering it's the largest of NYC's boroughs and second only to Brooklyn in population. I've been to Jackson Heights for a Colombian coffee shop and another time to the Museum of Moving Image, but that's it. So I convinced Jamie W. to take the 7-line almost to the end of the line at Willets Point where we saw what was once Shea Stadium but is now called Citi Field. Walking over the elevated boardwalk into the expansive Flushing Meadows Corona Park, we didn't know we were coming upon it since the trees camouflaged it. But once beyond the foliage, you've gone back 55 years to the 1964 World's Fair. It's definitely a product of its time built by US Steel in stainless steel, of course, as a symbol of world peace. It's one of the largest globes ever made standing 140 feet high and 120 feet wide. It also weighs 900,000 pounds, a prime candidate for the Kaiser weight management program, and like Jayne Mansfield, another product of her time, quite top heavy as most of the land masses are in the Northern hemisphere. I believe most women wanted their land masses in their Northern hemisphere. Is it worth the trek to get there? Sure, especially for nostalgic baby boomers. RELATED - Planning a trip to NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2ZvQA2F

    Norman J.

    One of queens most famous landmarks, the unisphere is the symbol of this wonderful borough. From tv shows to movies, when you see the unisphere you know it is queens ny no doubt about it.i know growing up as a kid and going to the to shea stadium to see the Mets play baseball. You would always be able to see the unisphere from the high way, or the 7 train coming in to shea stadium, which is now called citi field stadium. But in the latest years when I worked at flushing meadow park, I was able to see it all the time and go to the queens museum to read about the history of the unisphere, and the 1964 world's fair that was going on way before I was born .it was truly a remarkable event that world's fair. So by me working in flushing for a good while flushing meadows, was like a second home to me ,by being out there I was able to see how much of a melting pot queens really was .so many different nationalities all coming together, celebrating their different cultures. They even had several nationalities celebrating their heritage on different days in the summer time in flushing meadows park .I remember the dragon costumes and a particular out fit were about 5 people were the feet of the dragon. They were celebrating China day,that was cool. I was able to see most of all the celebrations first hand back in 2006 while working there. No matter how many times I see the unisphere it never gets old ,the last time I was there just a couple of months ago .I was there at a wedding, right next to the unisphere at terrace on the park. And I had to take a picture of the famous unisphere that night.

    Me (with the horrible look on my face) at the 1964 Worlds Fair. Posted by Request. :-)    08/21/17
    Marianne W.

    Very cool place to reminisce about my youth. I'm so happy it has been preserved. I went two times to the Worlds Fair. I went the Summer of 1964 and again in 1965. I wish I had more photos. I returned a few years back when my daughter ran the half marathon. I couldn't wait to walk around seeing the remnants that remain from that wonderful historic moment! If you get a chance go visit the park and the Unisphere.

    So if you buy something on Amazon this is actually where it comes from. You learn something new erryday.
    Fox E.

    You needn't be scared of this place. Just because someone was killed here on an episode of Law And Order: With Criminal Intent, doesn't justify your "Unis-fear." Speaking of which, there's a new series coming out, about Circus Crime and the cops that prevent it. It's called Law And Order: With Criminals In Tents. If you are at a University that is struggling to pay its overheads, then that "Uni's Fear" is going bankrupt and ceasing to exist. It's a "Unique Fear" because there is in fact only one college that does not have wealthy benefactors, and therefore no other Uni is in this sort of peril. As for the word "peril", then if you add an "n" it becomes "Pernil", which is delicious Latin Caribbean Roast Pork. And it's interesting that just 1 letter can separate something so bad from something so good. Now what was this review supposed to be about? The Unisphere is simply one of the most stunning things I've ever seen. To many, it's "that place from Men In Black", but to me, I don't even think of that particular Tommy Lee Jones movie (I can't remember who else was in it, I just marvel (not comics) in the beauty of this stunning landmark). And if Britney had gone to college instead of becoming rich and famous, then she would have been Unispears. It's actually my favourite place in all of NYC. More so than any of the bridges or sweeping views of the city. Right here sandwiched Corona & Flushing, with freeways (not called freeways in NYC) criss crossing the landscape on every side. It's not particularly peaceful here and the jets thunder overhead towards LaGuardia just to the NW, while the tourists come and go, in large numbers - especially during the day. And despite all of this, it remains one of the loveliest places I've ever been. And if you had saved the unicorns before they became extinct, they would have given you a very loud, enthusiastic Unicheer. I think perhaps because it's so unusual, so original, so unique and so striking. Or perhaps because I am a massive fan of travel and Geography. Indeed, on all of my quiz teams (geek alert) I am the resident "global expert" at everything from capitals to mountains to rivers to foods to flags. So seeing a massive metallic upside-down globe is a huge thrill to someone like me. And when you join the real world, you tend to prefer lagers and bitters that actually taste good. As opposed to the watered-down, anything-goes crap you drank in college, also known as Unibeer. Walking around the Unisphere by day is peaceful and lovely. By night is haunting and spectacular. The glowing inverted globe is a sight to behold. It's behind the Queens Museum, and sandwiched between BJK Tennis Center and the Queens Theater, all of which are visually stunning too, but none to the same degree as the Unisphere. It is a must-visit landmark. Unfolding on three sides of it is the greenery of Flushing Meadows - Corona Park, and I could not imagine a more perfect urban park or a more striking visual than this place. The night lighting is what makes this place extra special to me. It's lit up in such a pronounced way, that even from the highway but especially up close, it literally shines in the night, like the moon at its brightest but so much bigger and closer. It glows an eerie, luminous white. It provokes gasps in all that I take to see it. It's a "wowwwwwww" sort of place. And an unexpected wow, too, because nobody really expects to say "wow" to something in Queens. If you were unpopular in high school, now hated in the real world, but during those college days you were adored and beloved, then the term for that is "uni-revered." And I'm sorry. And if you're mortally afraid of Unibrows, then you have an uncontrollable (but understandable) "Unifear." And if you can successfully prognosticate exactly which college someone will go to, then you're a "Uni-seer." And you could make money from that. But not as much as the Skipped-Uni-Spears did. Oops. You think she's in love. Speaking of Queens. Tourists don't rate Queens the way those of us that really know Queens rate Queens. It's just that place you fly in and out of. Now finally, it's becoming that place where you get the very best and very cheapest authentic ethnic food (of any kind) in New York City. And Queens has The Unisphere. One of my 5 favourite "tourist attractions" in America, hands down, and easily my favourite in NYC. But then I have a massive "pro Queens" bias because all of my favourite food places are in Queens. However if you know me well you know that getting naked with me is always, always a good idea. Oh wait, sorry I got distracted. I meant to say, if you know me well, you know that a big shiny sparkly illuminated globe in a park in the night time in a dramatic concrete jungle urban city scape right next to an imposing sports arena and an abandoned looking monolithic weird thing that makes no sense to me, is always going to massively appeal to me. And speaking of massive...

    Lourdes M.

    An iconic symbol. Majestic. Gorgeous. Beautiful at whatever season and reason. Inspiring. Relaxing. Landmark in Queens. Come and visit. No regrets when you do. Worth ever minute of your glimpse and stay.

    Dan R.

    My 1,000th Yelp review. I wanted it to be personal and meaningful. So when I found myself unexpectedly in Queens, I knew what I'd be writing about. I returned to a place from my childhood to see a sight I last saw fifty years ago. An optimistic place that brought a remarkable sense of awe, majesty, wonder, and hope for a bright future. This is a review of The Unisphere - on the grounds of the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, New York. It still stands today- as glorious and majestic as ever. Flushing Meadows Park is beautiful- with a zoo and kiddie rides and ice cream trucks, groups of young children on school field trips, older kids, laughing on a bench -probably playing hooky from school, oldsters strolling, young lovers wandering around hand in hand. The Unisphere was built by the US Steel Corporation to represent world peace. It's the largest globe in the world at twelve stories tall and weighing in at 700,000 pounds. You can see three rings circling the world, they represent the historic orbits of the satellite Telstar, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and Astronaut John Glenn. Made of stainless steel, it will never rust. It looks as glorious today as it did to the fair-goers in 1964. It was a very melancholy visit for me - a combination of seeing this beautiful symbol of hope and the glory of man, mixed in with the realization of time's passage. In 1964 when I visited (amazingly, I saved my admission ticket fifty years ago, and today I scanned and uploaded it) my family of five was there. There are just 2 of us left. Too bad families are made of flesh and blood instead of stainless steel There is a plaque at the base of the Unisphere pavilion that reads: Dedicated toward man's aspirations to Peace Through Understanding and symbolizing his achievements in an expanding universe. Built and presented by the United States Steel Corporation (USS) to the New York World's Fair April 22, 1964. Made of Stainless Steel, the Unisphere is 140' high, 120' feet in diameter and weighs 700,000 pounds.

    The Unisphere
    Jando S.

    From food to the people, the endless diversity in Queens cannot be more perfectly represented than the Unisphere. Visible from the descending planes to LaGuardia, the highways and the subway, there is no greater view than in person at Flushing Meadow Corona Park. It is uniquely New York City. It is a timeless, iconic, awe-inspiring thing of beauty. It is infinitely symbolic and is by far one of the most beautiful landmarks in the borough. Erected nearly 50 years ago as a symbolic addition to the "Peace Through Understanding" theme to the 1964-65 World's Fair. After a major restoration a couple of decades ago, along with an overhaul of the surrounding fountains, the Unisphere is once again a prominent fixture in the slow evolution of the park. Even though I wasn't around to witness its greatness during its inception, I can only figure its current day renaissance is still as prominent as ever. Even for the many who know nothing of its history, it doesn't take much to marvel at its brilliance at any point in the day or night. It is never crowded and forever tranquil, despite the skaters, street vendors, and children running amuck in and around the globe. For tourists and locals alike, it is an attraction, a sanctuary away from the city, and makes for a killer photo op. The Unisphere is one of the reasons I'm proud to call Queens home.

    Rich W.

    Queens iconic symbol! So grand, so marvelous, so unique. See it by car or public transportation. There are several free parking lots in the park if you plan to drive. The closest parking lot is the one located next to the newly renovated Queens Museum. The #7 subway and LIRR stops at the Mets-Willets station and it is a ).5 mile walk to the Unisphere.

    Phil H.

    I remember being a little kid and totally mesmerized by the Unisphere when driving by with my parents on the way to visit family in the city. It was always visible from the highway and when I saw it I knew we were getting close. It's an amazing piece of architecture, and an iconic structure that anchors the park and is a symbol of the diversity of Queens. Built for the World's Fair in 1964-65 it still stands tall as a beacon of humanity and is a gathering point for those relaxing in the park with it's fountains and benches surrounding it. Now, I had not been in this park since those childhood days, but when I was here not too long ago for a Yelp event I was still taken aback by the sheer immenseness of it's size. That thing is huge! (insert sexual innuendo here) Definitely a must picture taking spot as it's image is famous and has been featured in movies, ads, etc. The Unisphere is a wonderful relic that bridges the past and the present in beautiful Flushing Meadow Corona Park. It's also easy to get to with the #7 train station close by.

    Worlds fair 2015
    Cathy H.

    A Queens must see! The globe actually has different layers and shows the topography of certain areas which I thought was very interesting. A lot of open park spaces around the Unisphere for a nice stroll. There are playgrounds near by as well for kids to play in. The Unisphere is a bit far from any nearby street or parking. It is pretty deep within Flushing Meadows Park so bring your walking shoes!

    The Unisphere with the fountains on and a sunny day.
    Bruno N.

    Gorgeous, especially when compared to what it was like when I was a kid growing up in Queens. The fountains work and there area around the Unisphere are no longer filled with garbage, dog poop and drug baggies. That alone makes it four stars, but I'm giving it an extra star because the Unisphere itself, the metal structure, appears to have been beautifully maintained, bringing it back to its original glory. If, by the way, you're looking for more information about the landmark, as well as the history behind how it came to be a symbol of a bygone era, you might want to check out the book, "Tomorrow-Land: The 1964-65 World's Fair And The Transformation Of America." I cannot wait to go back!

    Unisphere in winter
    Rebecca G.

    The Unisphere is an iconic, huge stainless steel sculpture from the 1964-65 World's Fair. It's located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. In the summer, it's surrounded by a stunning fountain, but it's emptied in the winter. It's the world's largest world at 12 stories tall and weighs 700,000 pounds. I love that you can see it from the highway and all around Queens. It's just a classic, enduring symbol for Queens. It's pretty cool to see, as you might remember it from Men in Black, but it's not likely worth going out of your way to see if you're a tourist with limited time and no car. It's very easy to drive here if you're a local. You can park for free at the Queens Museum parking lot.

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    Beautiful park, make sure to come to Parking Lot A to park then walk to the unisphere

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Unisphere

    Review Highlights - The Unisphere

    I never called it the Unisphere for me it was "The big globe." Flushing Meadows park is a gem in Queens.

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    Kingsland House - Holiday Historic House Tour 2013

    Kingsland House

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.6 miDowntown Flushing, Flushing

    I love the Queens Historical Society and the Kingsland Homestead for various reasons. First of all,…read morethey preserve and celebrate the borough's history and heritage in fascinating, entertaining and enriching ways. For those who don't know, Kingsland Homestead is a preserved colonial farmhouse and the second oldest house in Queens. It is also headquarters for the Queens Historical Society, which maintains the world's only museum of Queens history and a wide-ranging library and archives, including online teaching aids on slavery and the Underground Railroad in New York City. These two entities stimulate my love of history, architecture and antiques because they spearhead educational programs, curate exhibitions, publish a quarterly newsletter, and offer lectures, programs and slide presentations on subjects relating more than 300 years of history. Finally, the grounds are beautiful and located in a neighborhood called "Flushing," which has more Asian restaurants that Manhattan's Chinatown. So I can always head to a great, cheap, authentic restaurant after visiting. Here's the back story. The Kingsland Homestead was built in 1785 by original resident Charles Doughty, the son of a wealthy Quaker. The two-story estate became "Kingsland" after Doughty's son-in-law, Joseph King, a British sea captain, bought the property in 1801. Kingsland's first floor includes a 1,350-square-foot space where the society organizes exhibitions and lectures. The second-floor parlor is designed in a Victorian style with lacework and a plethora of items (i.e. notebooks, eyeglasses) that former inhabitants used. The house has a gambrel roof, a crescent-shaped window in a side gable, a Federal-period chimney piece with an iron Franklin stove, and a Dutch-style front door. Shingles fill the exterior, except on the west side, which features flush boarding and clapboards. The Queens Historical Society is based in the homestead. The society spearheads educational programs, exhibitions, and a research center. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers lectures, programs, and slide presentations on subjects relating more than 300 years of history. The house is in Weeping Beech Park. About two acres in size, the park had a 60-foot-high weeping beech from 1847 until 1998. For a long time, the tree had city landmark status and it is believed to be the original source for all weeping beeches in the United States.

    This wonderful treasure of a house from 1774 currently has a charming exhibit on toys, a period…read moreVictorian room upstairs and a terrific gift shop with interesting and inexpensive items plus great selection of books dedicated to many neighborhoods of Queens. Be sure to check out the cool weeping beech tree behind the house.

    Photos
    Kingsland House - Toy exhibit July 2016

    Toy exhibit July 2016

    Kingsland House - Kingsland Homestead

    Kingsland Homestead

    Kingsland House - Gift shop

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    Gift shop

    Bowne House Historical Society - Meet the oldest house in Flushing

    Bowne House Historical Society

    5.0(4 reviews)
    1.6 miDowntown Flushing, Flushing

    Worth going out to Flushing for…read more I was the only person on an excellent docent-led tour which lasted approximately 45 minutes. She was well-informed, conversational, and taught me a lot about something that I knew very little about on my arrival. I am a more informed New Yorker because of it. Bowne's house and family history are interesting, complicated, and hopeful - with lessons still (unfortunately) applicable today. Highly recommended.

    John Bowne (1657-1695) was a Peaceful Warrior for Religious Freedoms…read more John Bowne was a English Quaker immigrant. Who came to Flushing in 1661 searching for a place to worship without fear or intimidation. Hi everyone and welcome to historical Flushing New York. Flushing is a very old town indeed. Everywhere you look are towering Oak and pine trees hundreds of years old. Some of the buildings also stretch back into inntiquity. Straight back to our Native American caretakers. My grandmother would tell me the way Flushing was at one time, a different community. With a totally different vibe but still a vibrant diverse community. Flushing during grandmother's time , was complete with Dance halls, restaurants & department stores. But one thing remains constant in Flushing, religious freedom. Flushing was founded by those who were religiously persecuted. Our American ancestors were brave souls who traveled 1000 miles on Wooden Ships put together with hope, spit and tar. This harrowing Journey would take place on vessels without modern conveniences, navigation or guarantee of safe arrival. These huddled masses of religious pioneers came to our country to find a place where they could find their path to "The House of God". To search for a place to live and worship, a land without bigotry, repression, or fear. This was the path that John Bowne traveled. His family came to live in this small wooden house just steps from my own. I would pass this common little structure during is renovations. And learned of its former inhabitants. A tangible station of the Underground Railroad. The John Bowne house is surrounded by beautiful fruit bearing trees and birds that sing as if John and his family still lived here. 9 generations of John Bowne's Family Lived and spread the word of God and religious freedom from under this roof. In 1945 the structure and property were donated to "The Bowne Historical Society." In 1657 The Flushing Remonstrance petitioned Flushing's ruling Dutch government to permit religious freedoms and allow the practice of the Quaker worship. The Flushing Remonstrance petition is believed to be the Cornerstone of our American religious freedoms guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. Wow, who knew? People are allowed to worship in here in the United States in the manner we choose because of the vision and dreams and prayers. That traveled into the heavens from this small humble plot. I very much recommend reading the other reviews posted concerning this site, as they will contain additional information. Thanks again for stopping by folks. My grandmother would always tell me.. "There are many paths to the house of God". JIM D

    Photos
    Bowne House Historical Society - Springtime at Bowne House

    Springtime at Bowne House

    Bowne House Historical Society - The Spark of Our Nation's Religious Freedoms nurtured Defended & Kept Alive in this House.

    The Spark of Our Nation's Religious Freedoms nurtured Defended & Kept Alive in this House.

    Bowne House Historical Society - The little house that sheltered God

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    The little house that sheltered God

    Flushing Airport - Black cellophane sky at midnite

    Flushing Airport

    5.0(1 review)
    2.3 miMalba

    Its hard to find things in New York City which are actually and truly cool. What kinds of things…read moreare genuinely cool? In this name-dropping, get-it-for-me-yesterday, velvet-rope, waiting-list, glam-o-polis? They're very few and far between. But Flushing Airport is definitely one of them. In classic New York style; its utterly forgotten about. New York doesn't understand ghosts. Folks, this is an abandoned airfield. In Queens. Right across from LaGuardia and Rikers. Men once flew Pipers and Cessnas from this tiny little flyspec of an airstrip. It closed due to water-logging and because of a bad aircraft tragedy years ago. And now it just sits here, abandoned, awesome as hell; and no one thinks twice about it. Restricted, unused. Open, undeveloped land in New York. Eerie! Look at these pictures--can you stand it? Crumbling hangars and cracked, flooded runways. Piles of machinery. Creaking, groaning buildings and shattered windows. Overgrown with weeds and bulrushes and rusting equipment and memories. Authenticity. How does no one ever remark on this strange treasure? How can you live in the area and not even regard it with wonder? But the neighborhood's residents are apparently oblivious; and the city government can come up with no new ideas for the site except to re-zone it as commercial land. Or at least, try to. For cripe's sakes--if a BLIMP COMPANY wants to make it their landing pad; LET THEM. How phenomenally cool would it be to see blimps circling over New York again? There should be blimps in the air every day in our skies. Let them land here! Let's have some magic back in this stupid, boorish, uptight, post 9/11 age!

    Photos
    Flushing Airport - I let my dog run off the chain

    I let my dog run off the chain

    Flushing Airport - I called Champion to the window

    I called Champion to the window

    Flushing Airport - Everett Lee broke loose again

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    Everett Lee broke loose again

    Ridgewood Reservoir - The infamous stairs to get to the upper area of Highland Park.

    Ridgewood Reservoir

    4.4(7 reviews)
    4.3 miGlendale

    Ridgewood Reservoir use to be a freshwater wetland on the border between Brooklyn and Queens. What…read moreis now the upper area of Highland Park. I either go for a walk or run along the trailway all the time. Just recently after doing some research the 3rd basin used to be Ridgewood Reservoir until 1989 when the reservoir was drained out. One of the many fascinating history of this once Reservoir. There use to be a waterfall. At a certain distance while walking on the trail way you get to see portions of the abandoned and once waterfall. At first you would assume it was used as stairs to get to somewhere down, but nothing like it. I could only image the view. Another fascinating history behind the Ridgewood Reservoir, there used to be a keepers house and guest house. Only a small part of that house remains while the other part is long gone. Not sure if people while out running or just taking a stroll notices these tiny historical fragments distance away. Ridgewood Reservoir is very peaceful, quiet, and very well preserved naturally. If you are the walker type it can take you about 20 minutes to walk Ridgewood Reservoir. For those bike or running enthusiasts less.

    One of my good friends who lives in East New York recently told me about this magical place just a…read morefew months ago. While visiting my folks the other day in Fresh Meadows, I decided to bike to the Reservoir and see what all the hype was about. I have friends who live nearby and they are always telling me to visit. While visiting my parents the other day, I borrowed my dads old 79s Italian road bike and went for it. It was about about 8 miles but it was worth it. The reservoir is not to be confused with Highland Park though they are right near each other. If you've ever have noticed a bike path on the right hand side of the Jackie Robinson highway going east bound (nearby exit 2 or 3 perhaps), this it where that leads to. If you're biking like I was, there's a pretty decent amount of bike rack space on both sides of the water. The bike racks are also pretty publicly facing so seemed decently safe to me, as long as you have a decent or good lock. With by bike secured, I was able to walk around and take in the spectacular views of the water while enjoying the sounds of hundreds of singing birds, who too decided to spend the day relaxing by the reservoir. I couldn't help but forgot that I was still technically in New York City. Seriously, it felt like I was somewhere here on Long Island. The best part about this park, is that if you're adventurous, it turns out there are some really cool hidden paths all around. I found one that gave took to this unobstructed and extremely private view of the water. I had the entire one half of the park to myself. It was just me, my thoughts and nature. Bring some binoculars if you have any and go bird watching. I spotted some beautiful Red Robin's and blue jays. If you're ever out this way, I HIGHLY suggest you check this place out.

    Photos
    Ridgewood Reservoir
    Ridgewood Reservoir
    Ridgewood Reservoir - Part of the gatehouse still remains.

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    Part of the gatehouse still remains.

    The Unisphere - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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