Description

After enduring 10 harrowing years of the Great Depression, visitors to the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair found welcome relief in the fair’s optimistic presentation of the “World of Tomorrow”. Pavilions from America’s largest corporations and dozens of countries were spread across a 1,216 – acre site, showcasing the latest industrial marvels and predictions for the future intermingled with cultural displays from around the world. Well known for its theme structures, the Trylon and Perisphere the fair was an intriguing mixture of technology, science, architecture, showmanship, and politics. Proclaimed by many as the most memorable world’s fair ever held, it predicted wonderful times were ahead for the world even as the clouds of war were gathering. Through vintage photographs, most never published before, The 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair recaptures those days when the eyes of the world were on New York and on the future.

Bill Cotter has been an avid scholar and fan of the world’s fairs since his first visit to the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. His collection of vintage photographs has been featured in numerous books, including three previous titles for Arcadia Publishing, as well as in magazine articles, documentaries, and Websites that document the histories of the fairs.

The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.