Largest Globe in the World

The Unisphere was constructed in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens for the 1964-65 World's Fair. A gift from the US Steel Corporation, the Unisphere is the largest globe in the world, standing 120 feet tall and weighing almost one million pounds. It symbolized the theme of the Fair, which was peace through understanding. It consists of steel renderings of the seven continents and is encircled by three metal rings. Two of its concentric rings symbolize the orbits of the first American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in outer space. The third ring symbolizes the first communication satellite in outer space. The Unisphere is now a landmark and has become a fitting symbol of Queens, the most diverse county on the planet. After a $3 million renovation, the addition of spectacular lighting makes the Unisphere visible from many distant vantage points on the ground and in the air. It has also gained national prominence, appearing on television shows, in commercials, and magazine ads.