Exhibit Feature: Here Are the Beatles!
The Beatles' August 15, 1965, concert at Shea Stadium was not just a show, it was a seismic pop culture moment. Playing to over 55,000 screaming fans, it was the first major stadium concert in rock history, setting the stage (literally) for the modern mega-tour. The band could barely hear themselves over the crowd’s roar. The Fab Four joked, made faces, and John Lennon even played the organ with his elbow—classic Beatles mayhem. The sheer size and energy of that night proved rock 'n' roll was here to stay and turning up the volume. It was loud, wild, and utterly groundbreaking. Shea was not just a concert, it was Beatlemania in full, glorious bloom.
The New York State Museum is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' iconic Shea Stadium concert with a special pop-up display in our lobby through October 19, 2025.