Rob Bianco was, without question, a remarkable man. I knew him as a fellow New York World's Fair historian. Yet he wasn't a historian in the conventional sense. A historian is someone who interprets historical evidence and constructs a narrative that helps others understand the past. Rob certainly did that but the narrative he created was physical rather than written. Rob was a master model builder whose specialty was recreating the pavilions of the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair.

Rob was an artist, and his models stand as lasting proof of that fact. He created six models for me: the Unisphere, the Johnson Wax Pavilion, the Bell System Pavilion, the Ford Pavilion, the New York State Pavilion, and a modified U.S. Royal Toy Ferris Wheel. Every one of them is extraordinary. His attention to detail was unmatched, and each model is a genuine work of art.

Rob's story began in 1950 in the Long Island community of Elmont. In an interview, he recalled living only about fifteen minutes from the Fairgrounds and estimated that he visited the Fair some thirty times. He was about fourteen years old at the time. His favorite pavilion was the New York State Pavilion, where he loved riding the Sky Streak elevator to the observation deck to look out over the Fair.

Then came a chance visit that would shape the course of his life. One day, Rob wandered into the American Express Pavilion, where the Fair's official scale model was on display. He later said he was awestruck. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. He left the Fair that day determined to create his own model of the World's Fair.

As Rob explained, "Several thoughts about this project fascinated me. First, I would build something that no one else had or could buy. Second, I loved the World's Fair, and this would be an opportunity to bring the Fair home, to relive my memories many times over."

The Fair closed, and life moved on for Rob. He began a career in nursing home administration, a profession that he remained in until his retirement. In 1975, he married his soulmate, Shelley, and together they shared more than fifty years of happiness, raising two children. Faith was an important part of their lives. One thing that never changed, however, was Rob's love of model building. As the years passed, he continually refined his skills, becoming one of the finest model builders in the World's Fair community.

I had known of Rob since 1972, when I began collecting memorabilia from the Fair. I came across an issue of Going Places, the magazine published by American Express, which featured an article about him. After American Express learned of Rob's passion for the Fair and his ambitious modeling project, they published the story in their magazine. The article was later picked up by the Associated Press and distributed nationwide. It even caught the attention of Robert Moses, who sent Rob a personal letter of congratulations.

There is something especially fitting about that. Rob devoted decades to preserving the memory of the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair in miniature. Now, through Greg's documentary, Rob's own story—and the passion that drove him—will itself be preserved for future generations. It is comforting to know that, just as his models will endure, so too will the story of the remarkable man who created them.

For Rob, model building was never simply about constructing miniature buildings. It was about preserving memories, capturing history, and allowing others to experience the wonder of the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair long after the gates had closed. Through his artistry, he ensured that a small piece of that remarkable event would continue to inspire generations of World's Fair enthusiasts.

Bill Young
Greg Buracker
July 2026