The World of Tomorrow is Here Today: Images of the 1939 World’s Fair General Motors Pavilion

Amid the Great Depression, a group of New York businessmen sought to revitalize New York and emerge from the economic crisis the nation was facing. They had seen the booming success that had come from the Thus the 1939 World’s Fair was born, with the theme The World of Tomorrow, looking toward the future with respect to the past. The Fair was an opportunity for people all over the world to come together and experience new advancements in technology, products, and culture from around the globe. Many corporations and foreign nations took part in this extravagant event, sharing with fairgoers their views and ideas of what the future might hold. Designed by Norman Bel Geddes and presented by General Motors, Futurama, was surely one of the most memorable exhibits, showcasing the future of travel, architecture and civil engineering. This exhibit took viewers into the future with scenes of what highways, cities, mountains, and overpasses would look in the 1960s. The images in this exhibition capture the process of designing and constructing one of the most powerful attractions at the 1939 World’s Fair, taking you inside the General Motors pavilion and a “behind the scenes” look at how Futurama came together.