Beyond its symbolic significance, the Perisphere played an important role in furthering the fair’s theme. The sphere and its accompanying ramp, The Helicline, played host to a theme center exhibit called “Democracity,” a giant diorama that outlined a 1939 notion of an ideal city.

Wurtz Brothers Photograph of “Democracity” 1940.

Designed by Henry Dreyfuss, the diorama featured an inner city called Centerton, which would serve as the cultural and economic hub of the perfect city. Dreyfuss then included a number of satellite towns called pleasantvilles and millvilles, which were to be primarily residential, with some light industry. The outer towns were separated from Centerton by green belts providing park access to all.

“Democracity” proved to be one of the fair’s most popular exhibits, forecasting the massive suburbanization that came to characterize post-war New York.

A Pennsylvania Railroad PRR S1 6-4-4-6 steam locomotive on display at the 1939/40 fair.

The 1939 fair also introduced the world to color television, 3D film and Electro, a robot who could smoke cigarettes. Visitors could also view priceless works of art in IBM’s art gallery, visit Elsie the Pedigreed Cow and witness a host of new models of trains and other vehicles in action. A number of the pavilions in the transportation zone were also air-conditioned, a relatively new and exciting attraction.

While these exhibits offered a glimpse into the bright and shiny future, the fair’s glitz and glam would soon be overshadowed by World War II.