Expo 67 Was a Really Big Show

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One of the major World Exhibitions of the 20th century, Expo 67 opened April 28, 1967, in Montreal, Canada. The theme was “Man and His World,” named after the title of a book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Over the six months it was open, 50 million visitors attended. 

Habitat 67 modular housing complex
The Habitat 67 modular housing complex was unfinished as Expo 67 began, and today is one of the few remaining structures, serving as residential condominiums. Photo  by Taxiarchos228, CC BY-SA 3.0

 

USSR Pavillion
USSR Pavillion was the most popular exhibit. Photo from 1967 by Laurent Bélanger, CC BY-SA 3.0

 

With architectural delights plus the foods and culture of 62 countries, the present and future presented by Expo 67 looked bright--and at times, computerized.  A new metro zipped hordes of visitors from downtown Montreal to the fairgrounds, where there was also a free express and elevated mini-trains. One innovation sounds familiar today: as 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 magazine described it, “To take care of the influx of visitors, a travel bureau, called Logexpo, has been set up, complete with computer, to direct out-of-towners to Montreal’s 174,500 listed hotel, motel and private rooms.” Not too surprisingly, the part with the rooms in strangers’ homes didn’t always work out to everyone’s satisfaction.  

Montréal Biosphère
Once a distinguishing element of the USA Pavillion, this metal lattice sphere now surrounds the Montréal Biosphère environmental museum.

 

The reporter for 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 also remarked on the prevalence of film in almost every exhibit, including one “near-psychedelic setting in which films are projected onto five different screens simultaneously.” 

The Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec described the spirit of Expo 67 as reflecting the later 60s’ sexual freedom and conquest of space. Use of plastic was en vogue with designers. “Pervasive warm shades such as yellow, orange and red displayed their energy and radiance. This blossoming also expressed itself in the use of round or spherical shapes, which frequently appeared in both objects and graphic production.” 

 

Chair from Expo 67
Chair from Expo 67, exhibited at Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec. Photo by Colleen Kane ​​

 

 

Lamp from Expo 67
Street lamp from Expo 67, exhibited at Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec. Photo by Colleen Kane

The enormously successful spectacular attracted world leaders and prominent figures like Queen Elizabeth, Lyndon B. Johnson, Charles de Gaulle, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Marlene Dietrich. Musicians like Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Thelonious Monk, Tiny Tim, Bing Crosby, Harry Belafonte, Marvin Gaye attended and performed, and Ed Sullivan broadcast two programs from Expo 67, featuring the Supremes, Petula Clark, and others. 

Expo 67 souvenir
Glass souvenir ashtray from Expo 67. Photo by Colleen Kane​​

 

 

1960s History

The 1960s marked a transformative era in global culture and history, characterized by profound social and political upheaval, artistic innovation, and a spirit of rebellion against established norms. Emerging from the post-war period, this decade witnessed seismic shifts in civil rights movements, anti-war protests, and a burgeoning counterculture challenging traditional values.

At the heart of this cultural revolution was the Woodstock Festival, held in August 1969 in Bethel, New York. Billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music," Woodstock became an iconic symbol of the era's ethos of love, unity, and creative expression.

Oral History

Since 2020, the Museum has been deeply committed to the collection and preservation of stories from the people who know Woodstock best. In 2024, the Museum was awarded a major federal grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to continue the oral history pop-ups that were so successful last year.

Throughout 2024, Museum curators are travelling the country and across New York state to capture your unique stories with an overall goal of collecting 4,500 Woodstock stories from the people who attended the festival. That is only 1% of those who found their way to Yasgur’s Farm. Yet this archive will be the most significant collective memory of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair and will be a defining legacy of the Museum.

All Things Bethel Woods

More than just a venue, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts embodies a legacy of creativity, activism, and social change, inviting visitors to connect with the transformative spirit of Woodstock while embracing the timeless values of peace, love, and understanding. Whether attending a concert under the stars or exploring the museum's rich tapestry of exhibits, visitors are invited to experience the magic of Bethel Woods and be inspired by its enduring message of hope and unity.