Trylon and Perisphere: Towers of Tomorrow
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In 1939, millions of people headed to the New York World's Fair, anticipating its reassuring theme, "Building the World of Tomorrow." Looming over the Fair were the imposing Trylon and Perisphere. The tall needle-like Trylon stood for limitless opportunity while the globe-shaped Perisphere implied stability. Visitors likely missed this symbolism. But they couldn't miss the actual Trylon and Perisphere, which seemed to appear everywhere!
Official Guide Book, New York World's Fair 1939, Third Edition
The official guide book to the New York World's Fair had maps and descriptions of its many exhibits. The fair was open for two years, attracting 45 million visitors.
This official guidebook to the New York World's Fair contained maps and descriptions of its many exhibit. The cover features the fair's central symbols, the Trylon and Perisphere. The fair was open for two years, attracting 45 million visitors.
View ArtifactAdvertising Poster, "For Your Summer Vacation, World's Fair, New York," 1939-1940 - 2
This poster encouraged travelers to choose the 1939-40 New York World's Fair as a vacation destination. According to the poster, not only would you see the fair, but you would also "see the world."
View ArtifactAdvertising Poster, "In 1939 The New York World's Fair" - 1
This poster encouraged travelers to choose the 1939-40 New York World's Fair as a vacation destination. This poster's streamlined graphic style--in which the fair's symbols, the Trylon and Perisphere are highlighted--reinforces the fair's hoped-for vision of an optimistic future in a "frictionless" American society.
View ArtifactThe World of Tomorrow How it Will Look! New York World's Fair 1939
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair assured a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. This booklet, created as an ad for the Royal Typewriter Company, featured the Trylon and Perisphere on its cover and showed an aerial view of the fairgrounds--claiming this is how the world of tomorrow would look.
View ArtifactPostcard, "New York World's Fair 1939, Vanity Fair Building"
Postcards from the 1939 New York World's Fair depicted colorful images of exposition buildings or other scenes. Tourists purchased these and mailed them back to family and friends. This postcard was part of a series produced by the Miller Art Company of Brooklyn, New York, that all featured the iconic fair symbols, the Trylon and Perisphere, on their left-hand side.
View Artifact"General View of Constitution Mall and Theme Center, New York World's Fair 1939"
Postcards from the 1939 New York World's Fair depicted colorful images of exposition buildings or other scenes. Tourists purchased these and mailed them back to family and friends. This scene shows a general view of the main area of the fair, with all roads leading to the fair's iconic symbols, the Trylon and Perisphere.
View ArtifactAerial View of the New York World's Fair, November 1939
This November 2, 1939 Ford Motor Company photograph shows an aerial view of the New York World's Fair. The Ford Motor Company building appears in the second row of buildings, with its signature circular, tiered "road of tomorrow" flanking its left side. The central Trylon and Perisphere dominate the scene.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Salt and Pepper Shakers, 1939-1940
Souvenirs from world's fairs reflected themes or motifs of those fairs. This salt and pepper shaker set is based on the Trylon and Perisphere from the New York World's Fair, 1939-40. This pair of buildings symbolized the fair's utopian theme, "Building the World of Tomorrow." Purchasing souvenirs helped visitors remember and relive their trip.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Dish, 1939-1940
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair encouraged a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. Souvenirs often reflected the exposition's utopian "Building the World of Tomorrow" theme. This aluminum nut dish in the shape of a playing card suit depicts the fair's futuristic architectural icons, the Trylon and Perisphere.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Desk Set, 1939 - 1
The Trylon and Perisphere were iconic symbols of the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair. The architectural pairing represented the fair's utopian theme, "Building the World of Tomorrow." Many souvenirs from the exposition, like this aluminum pen holder and letter opener set, used the futuristic Trylon and Perisphere image.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Ashtray, 1940
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair encouraged a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. Souvenirs often reflected the exposition's utopian "Building the World of Tomorrow" theme. This ashtray depicts the fair's futuristic architectural icons, the Trylon and Perisphere.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Key, 1940
The Trylon and Perisphere were iconic symbols of the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair. The architectural pairing represented the fair's utopian theme, "Building the World of Tomorrow." Many souvenirs from the exposition, like this uncut key, depict the futuristic Trylon and Perisphere.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Button, 1939
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair encouraged a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. Souvenirs often reflected the exposition's utopian "Building the World of Tomorrow" theme. This button depicts the fair's futuristic architectural icons, the Trylon and Perisphere, amid various forms of modern transportation.
View ArtifactNew York World's Fair Souvenir Brooch, 1939
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair encouraged a depression-weary public that the future would be rosy. Souvenirs often reflected the exposition's utopian "Building the World of Tomorrow" theme. This brooch depicts the fair's futuristic architectural icons, the Trylon and Perisphere.
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