During the summer of 1967 we took the “Big Family Vacation” by going to Montreal to visit the Worlds Fair / Exposition. I had little idea what to expect, other than a long, crowded car ride. We made our home base in a campground outside of the city which was handy to a shuttle bus stop. I recall sitting in our car parked near the tent and pretending I was driving – turning the wheel (what little it would turn), making motor noises and pumping the brake pedal. At twelve years old I didn’t realize that stepping on the brake pedal caused the tail lights to go on – until I heard a man call out to my parents that the car lights were on. They discovered me playing inside and banished me from imaginary driving. Riding the bus was more adventure than the scariest of carnival rides. The drivers speeded through curved tunnels, nearly scraping the cement walls inside. We were quite certain that we would not survive getting to the Fair grounds – and if we did, everything afterwards would be anti-climatic. 
Well we did, and it was. There were lots of futuristically designed “Pavilions” and buildings, lots of people, and it was HOT. My favorite was the display from Burma – very old fashioned, “King and I” looking.
The worst one was an ugly housing project called Habitat67 that looked like some little kid had done a bad job of stacking odd sized brown blocks. I believe the projects out near the Kennedy Library were vaguely modeled after this display (they too are ugly).
Well we did, and it was. There were lots of futuristically designed “Pavilions” and buildings, lots of people, and it was HOT. My favorite was the display from Burma – very old fashioned, “King and I” looking.
The worst one was an ugly housing project called Habitat67 that looked like some little kid had done a bad job of stacking odd sized brown blocks. I believe the projects out near the Kennedy Library were vaguely modeled after this display (they too are ugly).
(check this link http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_habitat_p1.html )
The USA building was a huge geodesic dome which housed displays inside. The tram cars / monorail ran through it (and all around the park). We rode through and part of it was dark (we may have gone during the evening) and somebody ahead of us kept setting off firecrackers.
We must have spent a couple of days there, and then headed for home. On our way we drove through Pinkham Notch and had planned to drive up Mt. Washington. Unfortunately, it was going to cost more than my father had anticipated (unlike the drive-in theaters, the auto rode charges per person – not per car load) – and it was recommended that he unload all of the luggage off the roof racks before going up. Needless to say we changed our plan and didn’t drive the auto road.
(one week later, the brakes went on the car – leaving Nenna to contemplate the scenario of losing them as we came down the Mt. Washington Auto Road hairpin turns)
The USA building was a huge geodesic dome which housed displays inside. The tram cars / monorail ran through it (and all around the park). We rode through and part of it was dark (we may have gone during the evening) and somebody ahead of us kept setting off firecrackers.
We must have spent a couple of days there, and then headed for home. On our way we drove through Pinkham Notch and had planned to drive up Mt. Washington. Unfortunately, it was going to cost more than my father had anticipated (unlike the drive-in theaters, the auto rode charges per person – not per car load) – and it was recommended that he unload all of the luggage off the roof racks before going up. Needless to say we changed our plan and didn’t drive the auto road.
(one week later, the brakes went on the car – leaving Nenna to contemplate the scenario of losing them as we came down the Mt. Washington Auto Road hairpin turns)
more photos at
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