The New York World Exposition 1939 & 1940
In the Shadow of World War II

Year: 1939 City: New York Country: USA Duration: 30th April - 31st October 1939 und 11th

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World War II had considerable effects on the second Fair season of the summer 1940. Although the USA had not joined the anti-Hitler-coalition actively yet, a threat to America could not quite be gainsaid. That is why the atmosphere on the exhibition site was frequently compared to the much quoted play with fire. The substantial enlargement of the Amusement Area, now called ‘Great White Way’, fitted the mood.

Especially at the pavilions of nations significant changes took place. After Germany’s invasion in Poland, the Polish pavilion turned into a major attraction. Even in 1939 the pavilion had promoted a democratic constitution for the country, now visitors worried about world peace wanted first hand news about the situation in Europe. They took away fotos documenting the destruction wrought by the German Wehrmacht.

The architect Kamil Roskot had designed a practical box for the Czechoslovakian Republic where in pleasant surroundings the products of the country – glass, ceramics, steel products and textiles - were exhibited. Now this pavilion became a memorial of democracy threatened by dictatorship as well. The Soviet pavilion had already been pulled down after the first season and re-erected in Moscow as a museum building.

Of the World Fair buildings only the Great Hall of New York city is still there now used as museum for the city district Queens where one can go and see a permanent exhibition on the New York World Fair of 1939 and its successor of 1964.