The House of Tomorrow was the first glass-walled house in America and originally included an airplane hangar on the ground floor.
The Cypress Log Cabin was constructed using pre-cut cypress logs to demonstrate modern, mass-produced rustic living.
The homes were auctioned off after the fair and moved to Indiana to promote the nascent lakeside community of Beverly Shores.
The Florida Tropical House was painted in vibrant 'flamingo' pink to appeal to fairgoers during the Great Depression.
The Armco-Ferro House was built by the American Rolling Mill Company to demonstrate the feasibility of mass-produced steel homes.
The Century of Progress Homes are five historic residential structures relocated to the Indiana Dunes National Park after being displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. These houses, including the House of Tomorrow and the Florida Tropical House, showcased innovative materials and architectural designs intended for the future of middle-class living. The collection features experimental construction techniques like steel framing, cantilevered balconies, and window walls. After the fair, developer Robert Bartlett transported the homes by barge across Lake Michigan to the Beverly Shores community. Each house has undergone varying degrees of restoration to return them to their 1933 appearance. The site serves as a preserved timeline of Art Deco and International Style residential architecture. These homes stand as rare examples of fair-ground exhibits that were moved rather than demolished. The cluster remains a primary attraction for those interested in the history of pre-fabricated housing.
The exterior of the House of Tomorrow, specifically from the road looking up to capture its distinctive dodecagonal shape.
Check the National Park Service website for the annual open house weekend, as the interiors are typically closed to the public otherwise.
Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the unique geometric lines of the homes.
Combine your visit with a hike through the nearby Indiana Dunes National Park trails.
Do not attempt to enter the houses outside of official guided tour events, as they are not open for walk-in visits.
Interior access is restricted; the homes are generally only open to the public during a specific annual tour weekend in the fall.
Respect private property boundaries, as the homes are located within a residential neighborhood.
