Old Photographs of Montréal’s “Expo 67” (Gallery)

Montreal’s World Expo on the nation’s centennial holds a special place in the heart of many Canadians. When I first traveled to Montreal the number one place to visit on my list was what I only knew as the Expo 67 ball, and eventually I pieced together that it was called the Montreal Biosphere.

In front of the geodesic dome, a couple asked me to take their picture, and explained it was their anniversary, and they had their honeymoon in Montreal in 1967.

June-October 1967-Gilbert Ouellet

Architect and futurist Buckminster Fuller designed the pavilion that became the Biosphere.

A 1976 fire damaged the structure, and it was closed until 1995, when Environment Canada transformed it into an interactive water museum. It has since been expanded to include the environment, and education about climate change. For more about the Biosphere visit their website.

The condo building Habitat 67 is another famous building that started as an Expo 67 exhibit.

Montreal Expo 67
June-October 1967-Expo 67 Gilbert Ouellet

Montreal famously created manmade islands, and spent hundreds of millions of dollars, and started preparations in 1963. It was a huge success, and is regarded as one of the best and highest attended world fairs in history.

The Montreal Archives has a host of nostalgic pictures that capture the scale and excitement of the event.

Montreal Expo 67
December 11, 1963-Work on the Expo 67 Rheal Benny site.
1963-Views of the lighthouse and the letters EXPO 67 taken from the Jacques-Cartier-Henri Remillard bridge.
September 25-1963-Aerial views of the Expo 67 site.
1964-Slideshow on the advertising promotion of Expo 67.
Expo 67
1964-Slideshow on the advertising promotion of Expo 67.
Expo 67.
1964-Slideshow on the advertising promotion of Expo 67.
Expo 67
1964-Slideshow on the advertising promotion of Expo 67.
Expo 67 Youth Pavilion
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (1)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (2)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (3)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (4)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (5)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (6)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (7)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (8)
Expo 67
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (9)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (10)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (11)
Expo 67
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (12)
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet (13)
Expo 67
June-October 1967-Expo 67-Gilbert Ouellet
Expo 67
June-October 1967-Gilbert Ouellet
June-October 1967-Gilbert Ouellet

 

 

About Tara Collum 4 Articles
Tara Collum is a Toronto writer, book hoarder, and aspiring cat lady.