Beneath the Unisphere

The Untold Story of the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair

What if the most spectacular fair in American history was built not just on dreams of the future—but on political warfare, civil unrest, and corporate conquest?

In Beneath the Unisphere, historian and investigative author Gary Covella, Ph.D. peels back the gleaming chrome of the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair to reveal the turbulent reality just beneath its surface. This gripping narrative uncovers how a global exposition meant to unify the world became a hotbed of Cold War anxiety, racial protest, financial scandal, and technological experimentation.

A World’s Fair Without the World

Led by the master builder Robert Moses, New York defied international protocol to host an unsanctioned fair. Despite global backlash, corporate titans like IBM, Ford, and General Motors rushed in—turning pavilions into showrooms and diplomacy into marketing. Behind the scenes, power plays and propaganda reshaped what it meant to be a global citizen under the shadow of American exceptionalism.

A Civil Rights Showdown in the Shadow of the Unisphere

On opening day, thousands of drivers stalled their cars along the Grand Central Parkway in a planned act of protest. The “Stall-In,” organized by CORE and civil rights leaders like James Farmer, was more than traffic disruption—it was a public reckoning. Learn how activists used the fair’s global attention to expose New York’s racial inequities, police violence, and institutional segregation in schools and housing.

The Billion-Dollar Bluff

With spiraling costs and overpromised attendance projections, Moses and his team mortgaged the future of the fair on bravado and PR spin. As rainy spring days emptied turnstiles, vendors went bankrupt, unions threatened strikes, and Moses launched a desperate media campaign to save the illusion of progress. The fair would ultimately close under a cloud of unpaid debts and public disillusionment.

Cold War Secrets, Hidden Bunkers, and Surveillance Labs

Did you know a luxury bunker was built beneath the Science Pavilion? Or that IBM's “People Wall” predicted today’s data-driven policing? From Disney’s early ride prototypes and Vatican security scandals to classified urban monitoring experiments, Beneath the Unisphere dives deep into the covert activities hidden beneath smiling mascots and souvenir stands.

From Global Spectacle to Urban Battleground

Explore how Cold War fears, racial justice protests, and consumer technology collided in a single, sprawling event. With vivid scenes and original research, Covella connects the fair’s forgotten controversies to today’s most urgent debates—surveillance, protest strategy, racial equity, and the politics of spectacle.

A Must-Read for Fans of History, Politics, Urban Planning, and Social Movements

If you enjoyed The Power Broker by Robert Caro, Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault, or The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, this explosive untold history belongs on your shelf.

It wasn’t just a fair—it was a battle for the soul of the American future.

Step back into the fairgrounds—but this time, see what was buried beneath.