Attractions in Queens: Flushing Meadow Park the Unisphere

The Unishpere at Flushing Meadows Park is one of Queen’s most popular attractions. It is a giant metal replica of the globe with intertwining shaped iron beams and each continent represented. If you are vacationing in Queens or anywhere in New York City you may want to stop by the park and view this and the rest of what Flushing Meadow Park has to offer. It is a favorite spot for locals as well in the Rockaways and Arverne by the Sea as well as the rest of Queens.

Flushing Meadow Park is a large park right in the center of Queens. The Unisphere is visible as you are driving from a number of nearby streets including the LIE, Grand Central Park and Van Wyck. You may notice it flying out of or into JFK or LaGuardia.

Facts about the Unispherer
The dedication on the Unisphere says “Peace Through Understanding” and was first commissioned for the World’s Fair in 1964 and 1965, which was the last time it was held in Queens. The globe was made by the US Steel Corporation as a symbol of peace for the event. It is 140 ft high and 120 ft across, and all of the steel weighs over 900,000 pounds. The weight of the Unisphere is distributed unevenly, the steel continents making up the bulk of the weight. The globe had to be engineered to exact specifications and the base had to be strong enough to make sure the uneven weight did not cause it to fall.

Places you will be able to view the Unisphere fromr
The best place to see the Unisphere is up close from Meadows Park, you will have other opportunities to view it however. One of the best views is actually driving south on Van Wyck. From here you see the Manhattan skyline in the background. You will see it from several of the Queens side streets as well including around Flushing and from Main Street.

Find out more about Flushing Meadow Park in Queensr
One of the most beautiful places in Queens is Flushing Meadows Park. The park is located in central Queens and is visited by locals and tourists year round. It is a great place to meet up with friends, go for a scenic walk or to just relax for an afternoon. In addition there are a number of activities to enjoy at the park. Corona Park is part of Flushing Meadows Park and is another popular attraction. Though beautiful now, Flushing Meadows was originally a swamp and ash dump. Cleaning it was a massive community project and today you would never know it was once a dump site. You’ll find a number of museums, a zoo, and the park is home of many sporting events. It covers 1,225 acres making it 1.5 times as large as Manhattan’s Central Park. Access is easy from any one of the nearby freeways and side streets. It is the perfect stop for a quite or exciting afternoon.