Century of Progress Homes Open For Tour

"Over 70 years of wind, sand and surf have battered the five World's Fair houses located along Lake Front Drive in Beverly Shores, but their uniqueness has weathered the elements. With the theme of a Century of Progress, the houses were built for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair to demonstrate modern architectural design, experimental materials, and new technologies such as central air conditioning and dishwashers.

"The houses were brought to the dunes by barge in 1935 by real estate developer Robert Bartlett. Bartlett hoped that the high profile houses would entice buyers to his new resort community of Beverly Shores. Today the houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places." (Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore)

Century of Progress Home Tour will take place on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11 in Beverly Shores, Indiana. And, I've got to tell you that of all the seasons autumn is the time when Indiana - particularly the Dunes - is in its glory.

"Get an insider’s look at some of the twentieth century’s most visionary residential designs at the Century of Progress Home Tour in Beverly Shores. The tour features five forward-looking homes showcased at the 1933-1934 World’s Fair in Chicago and relocated to Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline at the fair’s end. The Cypress Log House takes center stage in this year’s tour as the first of the five to be fully restored. The house and its adjacent guest quarters will be open for tours. Visitors will also be able to see restorations-in-progress at the Armco Ferro, Florida Tropical, and House of Tomorrow, and Rostone houses. Tours are available 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time. Docents will provide overviews and narrative at each location." (Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana)


Tickets for the Century of Progress Home Tours are $15 per person and reservations are recommended. To make your reservations contact Jennifer Gregar at 574-232-4534 or north@historiclandmarks.org. Complete information can be found here.

Recommended reading:

1933 Chicago World's Fair: A Century of Progress Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition (great website!)

Century of Progress (extensive site with an interactive map)

Century of Progress (1933) A list of links on Chicago History Online)

Beverly Shores World’s Fair Homes (Dunes Blog)

A Century of Progress - The World's Fair Homes

Photo credit: House of Tomorrow, front elevation, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Note: Many thanks to the reader who alerted me to the tour via a comment! Hat tip to you!)