Rocket Thrower statue – New York World’s Fair 1964
$20.00 $10.00
Instant royalty-free download – no watermark.
Purchase includes a JPG file (3000–4000px on the longest edge), ideal for high-quality prints, publications, websites, décor, creative projects, and more. Once your order is complete, your download link will appear immediately at checkout – no waiting.
Created by sculptor Donald De Lue, this 43-foot bronze figure was commissioned specifically for the fair and became one of its most memorable works of public art. Cast in bronze and originally finished in a glowing gold patina, the statue depicts a stylized human form launching a rocket toward the stars—an embodiment of the fair’s overriding theme of space exploration and technological optimism.
Placed near the Court of the Universe with the Unisphere in view, the Rocket Thrower symbolized the belief that humanity’s future lay beyond Earth, reflecting the excitement of the Space Race era. Despite weathering and corrosion over the decades, the statue remains in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park as a surviving reminder of the fair’s hopeful vision of the “World of Tomorrow.”
About Retro Stock Photography
Retro Stock Photography specializes in genuine vintage color photographs from the 1950s through the 1990s, all available as royalty-free instant downloads. Our photos are popular for editorial features, books, magazines, websites, documentaries, advertising, social media, local history projects, creative design, and as unique gifts when printed.
All of our images are scanned directly from original slides and negatives, preserving their authenticity, detail, and character. And because we own the original photographs and copyrights, all of our collection is exclusive to us and not available elsewhere.
Buy any 5 downloads and receive 15% off your entire order.