world-fair-1939

We’ve been celebrating the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the World’s Fairs all month, but today’s actually the opening day of the 1939 World’s Fair 75 years ago. The Parks Department posted some history and photos of the event: “Highlights like the ‘Town of Tomorrow’ with futuristic model homes, Billy Rose’s Aquacade on Meadow Lake, the Life-Savers Parachute Tower, General Motors’ ‘Futurama’ depicting the world of 1960, and new inventions such as color film, nylon stockings, television, and air conditioning.” Before the 1939 Fair came to town, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was just a swamp and ash dump. After the jump, check out a picture of the barren area in 1936, during the park’s construction.

1939 World’s Fair in Photos [NYC Parks]

Photos via NYC Parks

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