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Whispering Column of Jerash

Field review by the editors.

Queens, New York

There were 36 countries with pavilions at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. All traces of them are gone -- except for the oldest piece of all, a 30-foot-high marble "whispering column" erected in 120 AD by Romans in the Jordanian city of Jerash. It was part of the Temple of Artemis, and apparently a lot of its columns were just lying around. King Hussein of Jordan took one, brought it to the Fair, and set it up next to the Jordanian pavilion near the Court of the Astronauts. The "whispering" part probably refers to an acoustical anomaly back at the temple in Jordan (we have similar structures in the USA) but the column doesn't whisper in Queens.

Also see: 1964-65 New York World's Fair

Whispering Column of Jerash

Flushing Meadows Park

Address:
111th St., Queens, NY
Directions:
Flushing Meadows Park. By subway (recommended) take the #7 train to 111th St. in Queens. Walk downhill on 111th St. (south) for four blocks. Just after you cross under a bridge, you'll see the rockets to the left; you can cut diagonally through the parking lot to get to them. To get to the Column of Jerash, walk past the rockets, turn right at the supersonic jet sculpture, walk behind the building, then make a left at the geodesic dome and walk across the bridge over the Grand Central Pky. You'll see the Unisphere ahead to the right. Walk to it, then turn left. Follow the broad promenade until you reach The Rocket Thrower, which will be straight ahead, then turn right. You'll see a soccer field on the left; the Column will be on the right, in the trees.
Admission:
Free
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Nearby Offbeat Places

The Rocket ThrowerThe Rocket Thrower, Queens, NY - < 1 mi.
World's Fair: The UnisphereWorld's Fair: The Unisphere, Queens, NY - < 1 mi.
1964-65 New York World's Fair Attractions1964-65 New York World's Fair Attractions, Queens, NY - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Grate Sound Art - Times Square, New York, NY - 8 mi.

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