World's Fair Flagpoles
These flagpoles are reputedly two of the few remaining remnants from the 1939 Worlds Fair that were preserved and incorporated into the 1964 Fair. They are topped by two stylized Art Deco eagles that, from our vantage point in the 21st century, look disturbingly Third-Reichish, which has contributed to rumors that they were gifts from Nazi Germany. However, a 1940 Worlds Fair Guidebook lists Robert Foster (1895-1982) as the sculpture of the flagpole finials that stood above the 1939 Lagoon of Nations. Foster was a New-York-based sculptor and painter known for his work with eagles. But in the absence of definitive 1964 documentation, it is also possible that they were recreations or original designs built specifically for the 1964 Fair. (worldsfaircommunity.org, forgotten-ny.com)
World's Fair Flagpoles
World's Fair Flagpoles
World's Fair flagpole masthead closeup