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Fountain of the Planets / The Pool of Industry

For the 1964 fair, the Flushing River (aka Flushing Creek) was filled in on the western end of the fair grounds. The circular Fountain of the Planets was placed over the old river path and, supposedly, the river flows through the fountain via tunnels on its way from Meadow Lake to Flushing Bay. I suspect the fountain has been inactive for years, although the presence of fowl demonstrates that the water isn't too fetid to support life.

During the fair, the fountain was apparently quite a spectacle, shooting 10,000 tons of water as high as 150 feet into the air in ever-changing patterns. Rockets were fired from 464 launchers and lights totaling 150 million candle power cast their brilliant colors at water and sky with music playing over loudspeakers. The fountain was automated, allowing split-second coordination of water jets, lights and music in five completely different shows. Seems like a bit of ejaculatory overkill, but Moses and post-war America were not known for understatement.

Next: Freedom of the Human Spirit