Romania / Hall of Nations /1939 New York
Channel: DIGITAL EYE - Traveller
Date: 2020-09-21

Grand opening / On April 30, 1939, a very hot Sunday, the fair had its grand opening, with 206,000 people in attendance. The April 30 date coincided with the 150th anniversary of George Washington's inauguration, in Lower Manhattan, as the first President of the United States. Although many of the pavilions and other facilities were not quite ready for this opening, it was put on with pomp and great celebration.
The Romanian House was constructed in Romanian style, with the tower modeled after old Romanian watch towers in which bells were rung to signal danger. The main feature of the Romanian House was the restaurant in which one could enjoy fresh caviar, Romanian foods and music. / Architects: Prince George Cantacuzino, Octav Doicescu and Aurel Doicescu / Built entirely of marble from Ruschitza, each block was embellished with Romanian sculptures. The ground floor housed a series of representative displays that showed the nature of Romania's contributions to world civilization. 
Professor Dimitrie Gusti has been assigned as the general manager of the exhibition, and George Enescu conducted three outstanding symphonic concerts during the week of the Romanian music. Other celebrities such as the Grigoras Dinicu orchestra and the immortal folk interpreter and singer, Maria Tanase, brought to life the Romanian soul here, on American soil. How wonderful it must have been to have all these performances in the ambiance created by the Historical Frieze of the Romanian Nation, the Dioramas of the Romanian Village and the other effects intended to portray a progressive country. For more accurate presentations on the World’s Fair, the reader may check the bibliography given at the end of this presentation. 
https://www.1939nyworldsfair.com/worlds_fair/wf_tour/hall_of_nations/romainia.htm