Sayart.net - Historic Century of Progress Houses Face New Chapter on Indiana Lakeshore

Five architectural relics from Chicago's 1933-1934 Century of Progress World's Fair stand as silent witnesses to Depression-era optimism along the shores of Lake Michigan in Beverly Shores, Indiana, located 52 miles from their original exhibition site. These demonstration houses, which once showcased futuristic living concepts to 39 million fair visitors, are now undergoing significant transformations that could alter their public accessibility for generations to come. Three of the five surviving structures are experiencing major changes that reflect evolving preservation strategies and market pressures. The most prominent renovation involves the iconic House of Tomorrow, a twelve-sided glass structure designed by visionary architect George Fred Keck, where restoration crews have finally begun reversing decades of deterioration and inappropriate alterations. The National Park Service, which owns the land and structures, has partnered with Indiana Landmarks to manage these historic properties through a complex leasing arrangement that has both protected and complicated their preservation. The House of Tomorrow's restoration represents a milestone in architectural conservation, as workers carefully remove the small windows installed in 1935 and reinstall floor-to-ceiling glass walls that defined the home's revolutionary design. This pioneering structure originally featured amenities that seemed fantastical in 1933, including an early dishwasher and a covered parking area designed for both an automobile and a small airplane, embodying the fair's theme of technological optimism. The restoration process involves painstaking research into original materials and construction techniques, ensuring that the building's pioneering modernist aesthetic will be visible for the first time in over ninety years when completed. Meanwhile, the Florida Tropical House, a striking flamingo-pink structure that has become the most photographed of the five houses, faces an uncertain future following a complicated lease sale process. The property was listed for sale in January 2024 at just under $2.5 million, later reduced to slightly below $2.4 million, with the listing marked as pending by late December. However, conflicting information has emerged regarding the transaction's status, as both National Park Service and Indiana Landmarks officials report they have not been contacted about any deal and are unaware of a pending sale. The price covers only the lease, not ownership of the structure itself, reflecting the unusual arrangement where the park service retains ownership while Indiana Landmarks holds the primary lease and subleases to occupants. The Cypress Log Cabin has taken on a new role as Indiana Dunes National Park's only overnight lodging option, listed on VRBO at rates ranging from $757 per night during winter to over $2,000 per night in peak summer season. This three-bedroom structure that sleeps twelve represents a creative approach to historic preservation through adaptive reuse, generating revenue while allowing public access. The remaining two houses continue to serve as private residences under long-term lease agreements, maintaining the mixed-use character that has defined the cluster for decades. Developer Robert Bartlett originally purchased six demonstration houses after the fair closed, transporting them by truck and barge to his fledgling Beverly Shores development between 1934 and 1935. Bartlett envisioned these structures as free public attractions that would draw visitors to his planned 3,600-acre lakefront community, which he hoped would rival Chicago's North Shore suburbs. His ambitious plans included a golf course, botanic garden, 32-room hotel, and at least 500 homes, though the Great Depression ultimately prevented many of these elements from materializing. The houses were joined by eight buildings from the fair's Colonial Village, including replicas of Benjamin Franklin's house and Boston's Old North Church, though most of these structures have since been lost to fire or demolition. The ownership history became increasingly complex in the 1970s when the National Park Service acquired the land as part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now a national park. Existing residents retained long-term leases called "reservation of use," creating a unique public-private partnership that has preserved the houses but sometimes hindered maintenance and restoration efforts. The recent changes signal a potential shift toward greater public access, aligning more closely with Bartlett's original vision of these structures as educational examples of modern homebuilding. As restoration continues and the Florida Tropical House's future becomes clearer, these architectural artifacts may once again serve their intended purpose of inspiring visitors with visions of progress and innovation.