Man and His World - Terre Des Hommes

Although Expo 67 was only intended to last one season, strong attendance numbers led to the decision to continue operating past the original closing date. Expo closed on schedule on October 29, but instead of demolition crews showing up to take down the colorful pavilions, the grounds were mothballed for the winter. In 1968 the former world's fair re-opened as "Man and His World". Not all of the original countries or exhibiting companies decided to return, but to the thrill of those who had enjoyed Expo or hadn't been able to see it yet, most were there again. As the years went on some exhibitors remained in the same place, but others left and newcomers were added to the mix. In some cases countries ended up losing their original pavilions and later took over someone else's, which made a visit confusing at times. I went to college nearby, starting in 1969, and it was quite a surprise to first see the buildings off in the distance as we approached the site, then to see how things had changed. A visit the next season would usually mean even more juggling of tenants.

"Man and His World" continued as a summer festival in various forms until 1984, when the former Expo 67 site finally closed the gates for good. By then a number of the pavilions had been removed and many others were in disrepair, which is not surprising when one remembers that they were only intended to last six months and had not been designed with Montreal's harsh winters in mind. The entire Ile-Notre Dame section had been closed in 1972 and it provided an eerie backdrop for those crossing the site on the Minirail. I have quite a few pictures of the deserted streets and buildings, most of which still looked okay from the outside. Other than occasional use such as serving as a ruined alien city in television's "Battlestar Galactica" (click here for some scenes from that episode), the pavilions on Ile-Notre Dame continued to crumble in silence until they were eventually razed.

Finally, after a 17 year run, the rest of the site, other than the La Ronde amusement area, was closed to the public and the days of Expo 67 ended. The once busy islands stood empty for several years, with the grounds becoming more and more dilapidated. Happily, though, the city finally stepped up and rejuvenated the property. Almost all of the buildings were removed, but when the work was done, a beautiful park filled the former world's fair site.

Despite its long run there's a relative lack of information on "Man and His World" and how it changed over the years. Here's a look at how many of the original pavilions were re-used for the later seasons. The gray boxes are used to show a pavilion was either closed permanently or had been removed from the site.

Please note that this list is incomplete and is based on ongoing research. All corrections and additions are welcomed.

Here are some of the brochures, maps and other pieces of information I have been able to collect on "Man and His World," listed in chronological order:

Return to the main Expo '67 page.