Century of Progress Home Tour

By Benjy Lipsman in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 28, 2009 6:20PM

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana

A few years back, we mentioned how the National Park Service and the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana partnered with some dedicated individuals to save the "Homes of Tomorrow" designed and built for the 1933 Century of progress World Fair. These homes were part of an exhibit showcasing futuristic conveniences like central air conditioning and new building technologies and materials. At the fair's conclusion, the homes were floated by barge to Beverly Shores, Indiana where a developer planned to use the houses to start a community. That plan failed and the homes languished in disrepair. The partnership planned to save these houses and make them livable, by renting the homes for free -- in return for the residents renovating the houses.

With restoration well underway on a number of the homes, you now have the opportunity to tour these "Homes of Tomorrow." On October 10 and 11, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana hosts a Century of Progress Home Tour. The tour features five of the homes, with The Cypress Log House taking center stage as the first to be fully restored. The house and its adjacent guest quarters will be open for tours. Visitors will also be able to see in-progress restorations at the Armco Ferro, Florida Tropical, House of Tomorrow, and Rostone houses. Cost is $15 per person and tours run about 1 hour and 45 minutes, available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.