The site on which the NYSP stands was at one time pristine wetlands. The Flushing River and it's many creeks wound to and fro through the current park grid, creating a marshland habitat rich with shellfish and waterfowl. This lovely region remained virtually unchanged until the late 19th century, when an enterpreneur named "Fishooks McCarthy" got a permit to turn the western bank of the river into an ash and garbage dump.  Within 30 years, the once beautiful wetland became an 85 foot high mountain of garbage known as "Mount Corona". The future site of the NYSP sat at the base of this mountain, adjacent to a 90 degree bend in the river.

 

          

 

In the 1930's, the dump was closed and much of the landfill was removed for constructing the runway at nearby Laguardia Airport.  The rest of the fill was spread out, filling in the remaining wetlands. The Flushing River was also re-routed to become a relatively straight line from Flushing Bay inland to the newly created Meadow and Willow lakes.

 

For the 1939-1940 NYWF, the future NYSP site was occupied by the Power Utilities exhibit, which featured a huge spillway representing hydroelectric power.

 

1939-1940 exhibit at future NYSP site

 

After the 1940 fair, the Power Utilities pavilion was torn down and the site was incorporated into Flushing Meadow Park (as it was called at the time) and remained vacant for over 20 years.

For the 1964 NYWF, the site was chosen for the location of the New York State Pavilion, and architect Phillip Johnson was commissioned to design the pavilion.