May 30 1976
From The Space Library
Third Century America, the U.S. Bicentennial exposition on science and technology, opened to the public with 30 000 persons attending; 32 000 employees of the Kennedy Space Center had attended a preview the day before. Built within 4 mo, after President Ford in Feb. called on NASA to create a Bicentennial fair at Cape Canaveral, the exposition occupied 30 acres and 15 geodesic domes clustered around the mammoth Vehicle Assembly Building, so large that the U.N. Secretariat could be mounted on wheels and rolled easily through its doors. "The message from NASA, 16 other federal agencies, and a conglomeration of defense contractors," said the Washington Post, was that America had spent her technology tax dollars well. The show was put together with $3 million in grants from the Dept. of Commerce, a $500 000 loan from NASA's budget, and an $800 000 advance from the KSC visitor center account. Before it opened, the show was expected to draw 800 000 to 2 million persons; in July, average daily attendance was about 5000, and expectations were reduced to 500 000 before the fair closed 7 Sept.
Many Fla. attractions reported a drop in attendance this summer. (W Post, 25 July 76, G-5)
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