"The America of 1960"

An incredible, 35,700 square foot model envisioning the United States in 1960 at the General Motors exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair. Called "Futurama" and designed by Norman Bel Geddes, it was the fair's hit attraction, full to capacity every day. Visitors rode on conveyor simulating an aerial journey over the model. More info is here, and a colour video is here. 

These photographs are by Alfred Eisenstaedt, turning his unsurpassed photographer's eye on the model for LIFE magazine. 

From the LIFE photo archives. 

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Pedestrian streets over top of vehicle streets filled with modernistic cars. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

The model's Yosemite Valley. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

An airport of the future. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

An urban view. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

The Mississippi River area. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

The 60s have some very modernistic architecture. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A suspension bridge overpass. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A highway running atop a dam. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Suburban housing. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

An unfortunately unidentified section. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A floodlit mountain quarry. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Countryside. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A designer of the model. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A highway tunnel with modern cars. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A (not especially modern-looking) farm. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

Office and apartment buildings forming sub-cities amidst 14 lane highways in an urban landscape. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

A mountain range. Source

Alfred Eisenstaedt, LIFE © Time Inc.

The crossing of two fourteen-lane expressways. Source