On our Freakin’,’Tiquen 2017 vacation, we visited the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to see five examples of the Century of Progress homes from the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair.

Century of Progress Historic District

After the fair closed, several of the exhibit houses were purchased by Robert Bartlett. His intention was to keep them as perpetual exhibits and to intrest potential buyers in his development, Beverly Shores. Two of the houses were transported to the site by truck; the others were floated by barge from the fair site to the Indiana shore.

Moving the Wieboldt-Rostone House image form Library of Congress

The five houses are:

Cypress Log Cabin

The Cypress Log Cabin

The Cypress Log Cabin

House of Tomorrow

America’s First Glass House

The House of Tomorrow – currently under restoration

Armco-Ferro House

The Armco-Ferro House

The Armco-Ferro House

Florida Tropical House

The Florida Tropical House

The Florida Tropical House

Wieboldt-Rostone House

The Wieboldt-Rostone House

The Wieboldt-Rostone House

Access to the park where the houses are located is free. Be aware of frequent and sometimes hidden STOP signs. Parking is limited but there is 15 minute parking available in front of the houses.

A Century of Progress

Today, the houses are leased by the Park Service to private tenants. The houses are undergoing a complete restoration to return them to their 1933 appearance. Tours are given once a year in October and reservations are required. For information about park hours and tour information, click HERE.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen Guys)