Monday, September 22, 2025 – IMAGES OF THE FUTURE AS IT WAS VIEWED IN 1939

By admin

THE 1939-1940

WORLD’S FAIR
IMAGES FROM THE 
MUSEUM OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK

Monday, September  22, 2025

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

ALL IMAGES PROPERTY OF MCNY

Issue # 1538

Today, it is Flushing Meadows Park, home of the US Open, Queens Museum, Queens Theatre in the Park and long forgotten, two worlds’ fairs.

The 1939-1940 fair was a turning point on contemporary design. So many innovative structures were housing exhibits.  The architects and designers became famous for decades

The structures were built to bed demolished and today only photos remain.

Creator
New York World’s Fair (1939-1940). Board of Design

They Build the Fair (Theme Center Riveters)
Photographer
Richard Wurts

Parachute Jump, New York World’s Fair
Creator
Curt Teich & Co., Interborough News Company
Accession number
X2011.34.4304 
Unique identifier
MNY286985 
Description
Officially Licensed. Lic. by N.Y.W.F. 1939 – K-1877 | In 1941, the Tilyou family purchased the Parachute Jump and moved it to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island.

Schaefer Center at the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Photographer
Samuel H. (Samuel Herman) Gottscho (1875-1971)
Accession number
50.137.2 
Unique identifier
MNY71940 
Description
View of a circular bar in front a mural. Men and women are gathered in front of the bar, bartenders are behind.  
Dated
1939

General Motors Building at the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Photographer
Samuel H. (Samuel Herman) Gottscho (1875-1971)
Accession number
50.137.22 
Unique identifier
MNY71952 
Description
Exterior view of the General Motor’s Building from the southeast.  
Dated
1939

U.S.S.R. Exhibit Bldg. – N.Y.W.F.
Accession number
X2011.34.4302 
Unique identifier
MNY286978 
Dated
ca. 1939 
Object Type
postcard

Perisphere
Creator
Hugh Ferriss (1889-1962)
Accession number
2011.15.129 
Unique identifier
MNY13686 
Description
Black and white rendering of crowds at base of Theme Center (Trylon, Perisphere and Helicline) at night, New York World’s Fair 1939. 
Dated
1937

Chemicals and Plastics Building
Accession number
41.44.218 
Unique identifier
MNY12351 
Description
Interior perspective drawing of Chemical and Plastics Building, showing 3 dimensional exhibit panel and cutaway roof to expose portion of exterior building, New York World’s Fair 1939.; 
Dated
ca. 1938 
Object Type
watercolor (painting)

Proposed design for Greyhound Bus
Creator
Raymond Loewy (1893-1986)
Accession number
2011.15.69 
Unique identifier
MNY845 
Description
Colored elevation drawing of streamlined coach for Greyhound bus for transport within fairgrounds; New York World’s Fair 1939. 
Dated
1938 
Object Type
painting (visual work)

Stage at Columbia Recording Company Building, New York World’ Fair 1939.
Accession number
41.44.240 
Unique identifier
MNY23139 
Description
Watercolor and ink on paper
Colored drawing of interior, Columbia Recording Company stage, with insets of various arrangements for recording and showing motion pictures, New York World’s Fair 1939. 
Dated
ca. 1938

The World of Tomorrow. New York World’s Fair.
Accession number
95.120.5 
Unique identifier
MNY286200 
Description
The New York World’s Fair 1789-1939 | NYWF LIC 750 | Copyright by Elizabeth Sage Hare & Warren Chappell. | Object opens to reveal accordion-like layers.

General Motors Highways and Horizons Exhibit by Night, New York World’s Fair
Creator
Manhattan Card Publishing Co.
Accession number
F2011.33.2063 
Unique identifier
MNY286476 
Description
“N.Y.W.F. LIC. 2965” Officially Licensed 
Dated
ca. 1939

Happy 80th Ella!

CREDIT TO

Museum of the City of New York

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

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