Caribbean Pavilion – New York World’s Fair 1964

The Caribbean Pavilion brought island culture to Queens with a vibrant mix of music, food and traditional crafts. Housed in a pair of low modern buildings, the exhibit featured displays and market stalls selling jewelry, carved woodwork, straw bags and mats, ceramics, and other handmade goods from across the Caribbean islands. Many visitors left with rum cakes, handwoven souvenirs, or colourful artwork — making it as much a marketplace as a cultural showcase.

The heart of the pavilion was its lively restaurant and bar, where guests could enjoy steaks and island dishes to the beat of live calypso music. Rum-based cocktails were a major draw, and for many fairgoers this was their first introduction to drinks like piña coladas, rum punch and daiquiris served with tropical flair.

In this scene, you can also spot the large Argentina Pavilion sign in the background. Although the structure had been built with the expectation of hosting a full Argentine exhibit, it was never officially occupied. After delays and political complications, the space was instead repurposed into an art gallery and restaurant. The entrance to that building would have been just behind the photographer.

With its lively atmosphere, upbeat music, and strong tropical identity, the Caribbean Pavilion was one of the Fair’s most festive destinations — the kind of place where visitors lingered a little longer, even after their plates were empty.