Revisiting Opening Day of the 1939 World’s Fair

About the Event:

This special afternoon will combine two unique programs into a single celebration of one of New York’s most revered events of the 1930s––the 1939 World’s Fair!

On the 80th anniversary of the opening of the spectacular Fair, on the very grounds where it took place, this celebration will include a private tour of Flushing Meadows Park, the legendary Fairgrounds that were visited by over 44 million visitors, and an exclusive opportunity to see Fair ephemera from the archives of the Queens Museum selected specifically for us.

On the walking tour of Flushing Meadows Park, our knowledgeable guide will share interesting stories about the legendary sites that composed the grounds and the larger-than-life personalities that came together to plan the fair. As we hear tales of what daily visitors experienced we will relive the excitement and drama of the fabled opening day. On this walk through the Park we will learn more about the 700-foot-tall Trylon and the 200-foot-wide Perisphere; Norman Bel Geddes design for the  fanciful Futurama sponsored by General Motors; Biily Rose’s Aquacade, the most successful production of the fair, housed in Sloan & Robertson’s stunning Art Deco amphitheater; and the streamlined buildings that stirred the imagination of a generation.

The walking tour will end at the only surviving building from the Fair, The New York City building––now the Queens Museum. After a short break, we will be met by Louise Weinber, the Archives Manager at the Queens Museum, who will lead us on our own, private tour of special World’s Fair memorabilia.The Museum owns more than 10,000 objects related to the Fair that commemorate its architectural and cultural symbols—the Trylon and Perisphere, The National Cash Register building, International Pavilions, Life Savers Parachute Jump, and so much more. These mementos––including tabletop radios, Tiffany’s collectible plates, jewelry, cosmetic cases, silverware, games, cane-seats, salt and pepper shakers, postcards, photo books, etc.––allowed the Fair’s impression of Utopia to linger long after it was demolished.

In addition to seeing the museum’s vast exhibition of ephemera on display in the World’s Fair Visible Storage, Weinber will be showing us important memorabilia from the Museum’s archive that are normally off-limits to the public.

We are delighted that we are able to offer this once-in-a-lifetime event on this memorable anniversary. Space is limited to resgister now to secure your place.

Audio assistance devices will be provided for all attendees.











When: Sun., Apr. 28, 2019 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

About the Event:

This special afternoon will combine two unique programs into a single celebration of one of New York’s most revered events of the 1930s––the 1939 World’s Fair!

On the 80th anniversary of the opening of the spectacular Fair, on the very grounds where it took place, this celebration will include a private tour of Flushing Meadows Park, the legendary Fairgrounds that were visited by over 44 million visitors, and an exclusive opportunity to see Fair ephemera from the archives of the Queens Museum selected specifically for us.

On the walking tour of Flushing Meadows Park, our knowledgeable guide will share interesting stories about the legendary sites that composed the grounds and the larger-than-life personalities that came together to plan the fair. As we hear tales of what daily visitors experienced we will relive the excitement and drama of the fabled opening day. On this walk through the Park we will learn more about the 700-foot-tall Trylon and the 200-foot-wide Perisphere; Norman Bel Geddes design for the  fanciful Futurama sponsored by General Motors; Biily Rose’s Aquacade, the most successful production of the fair, housed in Sloan & Robertson’s stunning Art Deco amphitheater; and the streamlined buildings that stirred the imagination of a generation.

The walking tour will end at the only surviving building from the Fair, The New York City building––now the Queens Museum. After a short break, we will be met by Louise Weinber, the Archives Manager at the Queens Museum, who will lead us on our own, private tour of special World’s Fair memorabilia.The Museum owns more than 10,000 objects related to the Fair that commemorate its architectural and cultural symbols—the Trylon and Perisphere, The National Cash Register building, International Pavilions, Life Savers Parachute Jump, and so much more. These mementos––including tabletop radios, Tiffany’s collectible plates, jewelry, cosmetic cases, silverware, games, cane-seats, salt and pepper shakers, postcards, photo books, etc.––allowed the Fair’s impression of Utopia to linger long after it was demolished.

In addition to seeing the museum’s vast exhibition of ephemera on display in the World’s Fair Visible Storage, Weinber will be showing us important memorabilia from the Museum’s archive that are normally off-limits to the public.

We are delighted that we are able to offer this once-in-a-lifetime event on this memorable anniversary. Space is limited to resgister now to secure your place.

Audio assistance devices will be provided for all attendees.

Buy tickets/get more info now