Museum of the City of New York

1939 World's Fair

The 1939 New York World’s Fair was a significant marker in New York City history and American culture. It contributed to the physical development of the city through major infrastructure projects, but equally importantly, it captured the spirit of its era. The 1939/40 Fair is considered one of the most important cultural moments of the Depression era, reflecting the search for a more prosperous, rational future via science, technology, and the rebirth of consumerism. The City Museum's collection of World's Fair materials includes original design drawings for the pavilions, rare color slides, photographs, postcards, and more.

**They Build the Fair (Theme Center Riveters)**

**Parachute Jump, New York World's Fair**
*Officially Licensed. Lic. by N.Y.W.F. 1939 - K-1877 | In 1941, the Tilyou family purchased the Parachute...*

**View of Chrysler Building**
*Colored elevation of Chrysler Building, showing symetrical building with mural ornamentaion over entrance...*

**Schaefer Center at the 1939 New York World's Fair**
*View of a circular bar in front a mural. Men and women are gathered in front of the bar, bartenders are...*

**How the New York's World Fair Looks, from the Painting by John Wenrich**
*Officially Approved. Lic. by N.Y.W.F. 1939 - K-1877 | Frank E. Cooper, 258 Broadway, New York, N.Y.*

**Design drawing for Rayon & Silk installation at New York World's Fair**
*Tempera painting on mat board of design and legend for the Rayon and Silk Exhibit, with a rayon fountain...*

**General Motors Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair**
*Exterior view of the General Motor's Building from the southeast.*

**Elsie, The Cow, In Her World's Fair Boudoir**

**Proposed Aviation Building**
*Colored architectural perspective rendering of proposed Aviation building interior, showing central exhibit...*

**See My Shadow (Perisphere from top Trylon)**

**Getting the Point (Surveyors. General Motors site)**

**Ford Exhibit "Cycle of Production"**
*Officially Licensed by New York World's Fair. N.Y.W.F. Lic. No. 1020. Made Exclusively for the Exposition...*

**Perisphere**
*Black and white rendering of crowds at base of Theme Center (Trylon, Perisphere and Helicline) at night,...*

**Richard Wurts on the Job at [The World's] Fair**

**Chemicals and Plastics Building**
*Interior perspective drawing of Chemical and Plastics Building, showing 3 dimensional exhibit panel and...*

**Westinghouse Electric Building**
*Officially Licensed by New York World's Fair. N.Y.W.F. Lic. No. 1020. Made Exclusively for the Exposition...*

**View of Communications Building**
*Black and White perspective exterior drawing of Communications Building, showing facade of entrance and...*

**Courtesy & Protection (Motor Police Officer, W.F.)**

**Transportation Building - Rocket Port**
*Officially Licensed by New York World's Fair. N.Y.W.F. Lic. No. 1020. Made Exclusively for the Exposition...*

**Aerial view, 8th Avenue Subway Station**
*Colored axonometric drawing (airbrushed pen and ink on board) of Independent 8th Avenue subway station...*

**Railroads On Parade at the 1939 New York World's Fair**
*View showing a group of actors in various costumes posed on the front of a steam engine.*

**The 14-Ton Giant Underwood Master Operating Daily at the New York World's Fair 1940**

**Theme Center**
*Colored architectural elevation drawing of Theme Center, including skeletal Trylon before sheathing with...*

**Grand Central Parkway (General view of Fair from Roosevelt)**

**General Motors Highways and Horizons Exhibit by Night, New York World's Fair**
*"N.Y.W.F. LIC. 2965" Officially Licensed*

**Hosiery Legend - various shades of hosiery, mixing of shades, colours and hues**
*mixed media;*

**Covered Bridge (Administration Bridge, end v.)**

**The World of Tomorrow. New York World's Fair.**
*The New York World's Fair 1789-1939 | NYWF LIC 750 | Copyright by Elizabeth Sage Hare & Warren Chappell....*

**Early Study, Theme Center**
*Black and white rendering of proposed Theme Center, not the Trylon and Perisphere, but circular building...*

**Supreme (Food and Sports Building, dome)**

**Bird's Eye View of the World's Fair**
*Panorama bird's eye view of the fair grounds, showing parachute jump in foreground and Trylon and Perisphere...*

**General Cigar Building, New York World's Fair**
*The General Cigar Company's exhibit was located in the White Owl Cigar Exhibit Building.*

**Suggested Exhibit for Gardner displays, designed by J. Caponnetto**
*Color perspective rendering of suggested exhibit to promote visitation of New York World's Fair, with...*

**Finish-on-Time (Night view of pile driving)**

**Stage at Columbia Recording Company Building, New York World' Fair 1939.**
*Watercolor and ink on paper Colored drawing of interior, Columbia Recording Company stage, with insets...*

**View looking down on motorcade with FDR coming from World's Fair, Madison Avenue and 96th Street**

**Proposed Band Shell for "American Commons"**

**Design for Hall of Music**
*Photograph of perspective rendering for Hall of Music with design for Mural ornamentation on facade;...*

**[Cosmetics installation at New York World's Fair]**

**Electric Motor Vehicle**
*Diagonal view of blue and orange ongrounds transportation cart with Trylon and Perisphere design on side.;...*

**City of New York Police - 110th Precinct - World's Fair Precinct**

**Proposed design for Greyhound Bus**
*Colored elevation drawing of streamlined coach for Greyhound bus for transport within fairgrounds; New...*

**Rendering of Perisphere Interior (Theme Exhibit)**
*Photograph of drawing of Persisphere interior, visitors on circular ramp viewing "Democracity" exhibit...*

**Fountain Spectacle, Lagoon of Nations**
*Stylized rendering of fountain display with fireworks at night, Lagoon of Nations, New York World's Fair...*

**Last Week of the 1940 Fair [Night at the Trylon and Perisphere.]**

**Exterior view, Fisheries Building, New York World's Fair 1939.**
*Black and white perspective exterior drawing, showing interior courtyard and bridge walkway over pond...*

**World's Fair Hall of Music**
*Colored perspective study drawing of Hall of Music and Theatre, showing approach with fireworks; New...*

**Proposed Exhibit for the Packaging Industry, Interior**
*Colored interior perspective drawing of the Packaging building display, with affixed photoreproductions...*

**Home Furnishings Building**
*Perspective rendering of view across lawn with visitors towards Home Furnishings Building, New York World's...*

**Proposed Concession Stand, Street No. 7 at Theme Plaza**
*Colored perspective drawing of concession stand at street No. 7 at Theme Pl., showing two stands with...*

**View of Town of Tomorrow**
*Black and white axonometric drawing of Town of Tommorrow including model village and Arts Building.*

**Trylon and Perisphere at the 1939 New York World's Fair**
*View of the Trylon and Perisphere from the distance. Rows of flower gardens can be seen in the foreground....*

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