Visitors to the Dunes National Lakeshore touring the five remaining landmark Century of Progress Homes find themselves immersed in the past, looking into the future.
“We have Todd Zeiger and his Indiana Landmarks organization to thank that these house structures are not only still around, but are also restored for new generations to walk inside of history,” said Bruce Rowe, supervisory park ranger and spokesperson for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
More Top Picks Chest Freezer
Rowe reminds there were originally a dozen such dwellings created and on display for the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition during the 1933 Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago.
The houses were intended as examples of modern living spaces awaiting the families of the future, all featuring amenities and designs promising innovation, convenience and luxury.
After the Century of Progress World’s Fair closed in 1934, it was Robert Bartlett who purchased five of the homes as promotional focal points to draw both attention and residents to his newly developed beach community Beverly Shores.
He paid to have the houses moved and transported across Lake Michigan by barge. Telephone poles were used to “roll” the structures onto dunes property, so they could be anchored onto their new landscape.
The five model homes relocated to Beverly Shores each feature distinct names and themes.
The Wieboldt-Rostone has a sturdy steel frame and is covered in Rostone, a newly introduced exterior faux stone covering launched in the 1930s made of limestone, shale and alkali, and hailed as a durable home building material “which never needs repairs,” yet faded out of favor by the 1950s.
The House of Tomorrow showcased a private airplane hangar, glass walls for the most optimal views, and an early experimental home air conditioning system.
The Florida Tropical House was created to show the world about the new concept of blended indoor and outdoor living spaces, with an emphasis on open terraces and patios, with the structure’s exterior boasting a bright flamingo pink paint as a signature focal point.
The Cypress Log Cabin used the simple concept of praising the merits of cypress wood as new and desirable for not only the outside of the structure, but also all of the interior elements, from furniture to shelving.
The Armco-Ferro House was billed as the ideal mass-produced affordable home of the future, using a design of all-steel, including walls, floors and ceilings, therefore not requiring any steel or wood frame.
Over the past decades, Rowe said the homes passed through various owners and eventually fell into disrepair.
“At one point, in the 1980s, the lake levels became so high, there was the real fear that these homes might be in jeopardy because of the waves, especially since two of them are located lakeside,” said Rowe, who has been with the Dunes National Park since 1991.
Fortunately, it was also in the late 1980s when the National Park Service was approached by the Indiana Landmarks organization with an idea to save and restore the homes.
“Todd Zeiger and his team have been an integral part of the preservation of all five of these houses,” Rowe said.
“After much discussion and arrangements, the National Park Department entered into an agreement with Indiana Landmarks to allow them to hold the lease for the homes with the understanding they would fund the restoration of the properties. To my knowledge, this is the only partnership where historic homes in a national park have been restored using non-government dollars with this type of a leasing agreement.”
Today, all of the homes, with the exception of the House of Tomorrow structure, which is still “a work in progress,” have been completely restored and are used as private residences, with the stipulation that the homes must be open for public tours one weekend every year as dictated by the Dunes National Park Association.
“This year, the tours are Saturday, Oct. 14, and they are led by a park ranger,” Rowe said.
There are only 600 tickets available, and there is a fee for the tours. Last year, it was $30.
The registration of the tours opens at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 11, and they fill up quickly.
“This year, on Sunday, Oct. 15, there will also be the option of more in-depth tours hosted by the members of the Indiana Landmarks organization. These tours are unique opportunities to walk through a living history with connections to both the past and what was envisioned to be the future,” Rowe said.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Century of Progress Homes
More Top Picks Best Bass Amplifiers For Gigging
Location: 208-215 Lake Front Drive, Beverly Shores
Hours: Interior tours offered only one weekend per year, scheduled Oct. 14-15 for this year
Cost: To be determined
Information: 219-395-1882 or www.dunesnationalpark.org