Find A Park > Flushing Meadows Corona Park > Monuments > Etched Granite Pavement

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Back to Monuments List

View all monuments in NYC Parks, as well as temporary public art installations on our NYC Public Art Map and Guide.

Etched Granite Pavement

History

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found postedwithin the park.

New York-based artist Matt Mullican (b. 1951) created this granite panel on which is etched the history of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s development, from prehistoric times through the World’s Fairs of 1939-40 and 1964-65. The 3,000-square-foot tableau consists of 464 four foot by four foot etched blocks that tell a hieroglyphic-like story of the park site, including the technological advances showcased in both World’s Fairs. The piece was installed in 1995 as part of Phase I of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s CORE area renovation around the Unisphere.

Mullican is known for his pictograph style, which he began to develop in the late 1970s after visiting Nova Scotia and noticing the ubiquitous informational graphic signs in the airport. He was active in the New York art world during the early 1980s, doing performance art pieces. His work can also be seen in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum. The installation of this piece was sponsored by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program in conjunction with Parks and the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Corporation.

Click map for directions

  • Four hundred sixty-four square, smooth, inset blocks arranged in four groups
  • Four hundred sixty-four square, smooth, inset blocks arranged in four groups

Etched Granite Pavement Details

  • Location: Just east of the Unisphere
  • Sculptor: Matt Mulligan
  • Architect: Miceli Kulik Williams
  • Description: Four hundred sixty-four square, smooth, inset blocks arranged in four groups
  • Materials: Black granite
  • Dimensions: Two groups 24' x 40'; two groups 8' x 45'; total area: 3,000 square feet
  • Cast: ca. 1994
  • Dedicated: 1995
  • Donor: Percent for Art

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. The DEDICATED field refers to the most recent dedication, most often, butnot necessarily the original dedication date. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation.

For more information, please contact Art & Antiquities at (212) 360-8163

Check out your park's Vital Signs

Clean & Safe

82
Park Condition Score
$267.4M
Recent Investment

Green & Resilient

8.7K
Mapped Trees
95.5
Acres of Natural Areas

Empowered & Engaged Users

1.5K
Recent & Future Events
Yes
Volunteer Engagement

Share your feedback or learn more about how this park is part of a Vital Park System

Know Before You Go

Marinas
World's Fair Marina
Due to a major planned reconstruction project, Pier 1 at the World's Fair Marina is currently closed. Limited transient dockage is available for smaller recreational vessels - please contact the Dockmasters office at 718-478-0480 or VHF Ch71 for more information. There is no dockage available for larger vessels or commercial vessels, including passenger pick-up and drop-off. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please check back with the World's Fair Marina in the future for updates.

Contacts

General Park Info: (718) 760-6565
Pitch N Putt Golf and Miniature Golf : (718) 271-8182
World's Fair Marina on Flushing Bay : (718) 478-0480
World's Fair Marina Restaurant: (718) 898-1200
Terrace on the Park: (718) 592-5000
Citi Field: (718) 699-4220
Mets Ticketing: (718) 507-TIXX
USTA National Tennis Center: (718) 760-6200
US Open/USTA: (914) 696-7000
New York Hall of Science: (718) 699-0005
Queens Museum: (718) 592-9700
Queens Botanical Garden: (718) 886-3800
Queens Theatre: (718) 760-0064
Queens Wildlife Conservation Center: (718) 271-1500
Sports Permits: (718) 393-7272
Picnic/Barbeque Permit for Large Groups: (718) 393-7272
Wheel Fun Rentals: (917) 231-5519
World Ice Arena: (718) 760-9001
Al Oerter Recreation Center: (718) 353-7853
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool & Rink: (718) 271-7572
Special Events Permits: (718) 760-6560
Tennis Permits: (718) 393-7276
Volunteer Coordinator: (718) 760-6561