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The ‘Century of Progress’ exhibition in Chicago 1933/34 had influential businessmen in New York turn green with envy: Why could New York not have something similar and lift itself out of the difficulties of Depression? Although New York had been wanting a World Fair for a long time, former attempts had failed at early stages - apart from a feeble answer to the London Fair of 1851 two years later – but that did not deter the New York businessmen. As occasion they decided on the 30 April 1939, the 150. anniversary of the inauguration of the first American President George Washington, easily interpreted as the birthday of the United States of America. A few influential bankers and industrialists, among them the Director of the department store Macy’s T. Percy Strans and President of Title Guarantee and Trust Company George Mac Aneny, pulled a few strings in Washington and got President F. D. Roosevelt’s support in 1935. Governor Lehmann and Lord Mayor La Guardia were open to the World Fair plans, too. Soon a group of 96 people, architects, intellectuals and scientists, started to discuss topics and possibilities. The World Fair was to show contributions of a democratic government system, of science and technology for the future of mankind.
With a press campaign, quickly started in 1935, public opinion was won over. At the same time the foundation of the New York Fair Society as organisational body was announced; its Director, businessman Grover Whalen, was later appointed as President of the World Fair as well. Even then it was clear that the exhibition would take place on a stretch of former wasteland in the city district Queens and would be open for two years. The funding followed the Chicago example as well. Subscriptions raised the necessary capital for the Theme Exhibitions and representative buildings. By selling bonds with 4 per cent interest that sold like hot cakes 27 million dollars income was created. Funding was also offered by American millionaires, the city New York invested more than 26 million dollars for infrastructure improvements and concessions for all sorts of private contributions - from company pavilion to hot-dog sellers - were granted for a fee.
Only 6 months later the American Congress passed a law on the New York World Fair, regulating the financial contribution of the Federation and allowed the New York Fair Society to lease the land for the duration of the Fair. Another 6 months later, on 16 November 1936, President Roosevelt invited by proclamation the nations of the world to New York, Grover Whalen visited Europe a few times to back the invitation. These efforts were crowned by success: 58 countries applied. The B.I.E. registered the New York World Fair as a class 2 world exhibition.
| Year: 1939 | City: New York | Country: USA |
| Duration: 30th April - 31st October 1939 und 11th | ||
