Although the opening of the 1939 New York Worlds Fair was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration, this bit of trivia didn’t get much traction, as we say these days.

In 1939, Americans were ten years into the Depression and not probably not eager for a trip down Memory Lane. What did capture their interest was the promise of a better future, the World Of Tomorrow. The unifying symbols of this better world were the Trylon & Perisphere designed by Wallace K. Harrison and J. Andre Fouilhoux.

The Perisphere, a three-sided pylon, symbolized the finite and the Perisphere, the infinite. As has been pointed out elsewhere, in the world that came to pass, the roles of these two were reversed. But that hasn’t made them any less memorable.

Back in ’37, Harrison & Fouilhoux patented their creation. Since many NYWF items were marked “Officially Licensed” I wonder how much they collected for all the salt and pepper shakers based on their design.