For the 1964-1965 World's Fair, architect Philip Johnson designed the New York State Pavillion in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Besides the well-known observation towers (think Men in Black) and the Theaterama, he commissioned a "130-foot-by-166-foot terrazzo replica of a Texaco New York State road map."
However, after vandalism and weather, the past decades have damaged the map to the point of "advanced disrepair." Luckily, the Parks Department and the University of Pennsylvania School of Design Graduate Program in Historic Preservation have been working to restore some of the map and an exhibit, Back on the Map discussing the project opens tomorrow, Sunday, January 27, at the Queens Museum of Art.
Left photograph of University of Pennsylvania professor Frank Matero demonstration conservation techniques by John Krawchuk/NYC Parks & Recreation; right photograph of students working on conservation of the Texaco Map by John Hinchman/University of Pennsylvania
According to the Parks Department, thirteen of the 4' x 4' panels were "removed from the floor for conservation work, at least five of which will be restored in conjunction with the upcoming exhibition." The Parks Department is still looking for a donor for sand, gravel and cinder blocks (one donor no longer supplies them).
Tomorrow, at 3PM, Queens Museum of Art exhibitions director Valerie Smith will give a talk followed by a demonstration of conservation techniques from the UPenn team at 4PM. The event is open and free to the public - and there will be refreshment and music (from records of bands that played at the Pavilion) between 4:30PM and 6PM. More details here and keep in mind some issues with the 7 train due to signal upgrades that may require taking the LIRR (check the MTA site here). If you can't make it tomorrow, the exhibit runs through May 4.
Also, check out UPenn's website about the project, The Really Big Map and Forgotten New York's entry on the World's Fair grounds.
