Century of Progress Architectural District
Encyclopedia
The Century of Progress Architectural District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The district is in eastern unit of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
. The homes are also part of the Beverly Shores
, Indiana
, community. In total, the district consists of five buildings, all from the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition
during the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair
which took place in Chicago
.
Intended to display the future of housing, the Century of Progress Homes reflect a variety of designs, experimental materials and new technologies.
The buildings listed in the architectural district include:
Framed in steel and clad with an artificial stone called Rostone (Limestone, shale and alkali). Billed as never needing repairs, it only lasted until the 1950’s.
Designed for the southern Florida tropics, the house combines the indoors and outdoors into the living space. Large open terraces and a flamingo pink paint scheme stand out.
Built to be a mountain home. The setting at the World’s Fair included a landscape with cypress fences, arbors and bridges.
Designed as the house of the future, this house included its own airplane hangar. Glass walls offered views from every angle and so taxed the experimental air conditioning system that the cooling system failed.
The only house of the five to stand the test of time in meeting the criteria of the World’s Fair Committee: ‘affordable’ and ‘mass producible’. An all-steel home using corrugated steel panels for walls, without a frame.
and Indiana Landmarks searching for potential leasees to restore the building. Under the agreement, the private owner would receive a 30-year sublease, providing that they would cover all of the restoration costs, and open the home to the public at least once a year. Restoration on the homes is estimated at approx. $450,000 to $750,000.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The district is in eastern unit of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore located in northwest Indiana and managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966. The national lakeshore runs for nearly along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana, on the west to Michigan...
. The homes are also part of the Beverly Shores
Beverly Shores, Indiana
Beverly Shores is a town in Pine Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States, about east of downtown Chicago. The population was 613 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, community. In total, the district consists of five buildings, all from the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition
1933 Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition
The Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition was part of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The Fair's theme that year was a Century of Progress, and celebrated man's innovations in architecture, science, technology and transportation...
during the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
which took place in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Intended to display the future of housing, the Century of Progress Homes reflect a variety of designs, experimental materials and new technologies.
The buildings listed in the architectural district include:
- Wieboldt-Rostone HouseWieboldt-Rostone HouseThe Wieboldt-Rostone House is a house that was built in 1933. Framed in steel and clad with an artificial stone called Rostone...
Framed in steel and clad with an artificial stone called Rostone (Limestone, shale and alkali). Billed as never needing repairs, it only lasted until the 1950’s.
- Florida Tropical HouseFlorida Tropical HouseThe Florida Tropical House is a beach house located on Lake Michigan's shoreline in Beverly Shores, Indiana. The house was originally built in 1933 as part of the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition during the 1933 World's Fair which took place in nearby Chicago...
Designed for the southern Florida tropics, the house combines the indoors and outdoors into the living space. Large open terraces and a flamingo pink paint scheme stand out.
- Cypress Log CabinCypress Log CabinThe Cypress Manufacturers's Association of Florida sponsored the Cypress Log Cabin at the Chicago World’s Fair. After the fair, the log home was sold to a couple in St...
Built to be a mountain home. The setting at the World’s Fair included a landscape with cypress fences, arbors and bridges.
- House of TomorrowHouse of TomorrowThe House of Tomorrow at 241 West Lake Front Drive, Beverly Shores, Indiana, was originally part of Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition. Designed as the house of the future, this house included its own airplane hangar...
Designed as the house of the future, this house included its own airplane hangar. Glass walls offered views from every angle and so taxed the experimental air conditioning system that the cooling system failed.
- Armco-Ferro HouseArmco-Ferro HouseFrom research completed by the Historic American Buildings Survey : The Ferro Enamel Corporation, one of the two major sponsors for the . . . house, was formed in 1930 by a merger between the Ferro Enameling Company and the Ferro Enamel and Supply Co. The idea of using porcelain enamel for...
The only house of the five to stand the test of time in meeting the criteria of the World’s Fair Committee: ‘affordable’ and ‘mass producible’. An all-steel home using corrugated steel panels for walls, without a frame.
Restoration efforts
Restoration efforts on the Florida Tropical House were started in 1997, with the Indiana Dunes National LakeshoreIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore located in northwest Indiana and managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966. The national lakeshore runs for nearly along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana, on the west to Michigan...
and Indiana Landmarks searching for potential leasees to restore the building. Under the agreement, the private owner would receive a 30-year sublease, providing that they would cover all of the restoration costs, and open the home to the public at least once a year. Restoration on the homes is estimated at approx. $450,000 to $750,000.
See also
- Indiana Dunes National LakeshoreIndiana Dunes National LakeshoreIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore located in northwest Indiana and managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966. The national lakeshore runs for nearly along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana, on the west to Michigan...
- Century of Progress Architectural District
- Wieboldt-Rostone HouseWieboldt-Rostone HouseThe Wieboldt-Rostone House is a house that was built in 1933. Framed in steel and clad with an artificial stone called Rostone...
- Florida Tropical HouseFlorida Tropical HouseThe Florida Tropical House is a beach house located on Lake Michigan's shoreline in Beverly Shores, Indiana. The house was originally built in 1933 as part of the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition during the 1933 World's Fair which took place in nearby Chicago...
- Cypress Log CabinCypress Log CabinThe Cypress Manufacturers's Association of Florida sponsored the Cypress Log Cabin at the Chicago World’s Fair. After the fair, the log home was sold to a couple in St...
- House of TomorrowHouse of TomorrowThe House of Tomorrow at 241 West Lake Front Drive, Beverly Shores, Indiana, was originally part of Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition. Designed as the house of the future, this house included its own airplane hangar...
- Armco-Ferro HouseArmco-Ferro HouseFrom research completed by the Historic American Buildings Survey : The Ferro Enamel Corporation, one of the two major sponsors for the . . . house, was formed in 1930 by a merger between the Ferro Enameling Company and the Ferro Enamel and Supply Co. The idea of using porcelain enamel for...
- 1933 Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition1933 Homes of Tomorrow ExhibitionThe Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition was part of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The Fair's theme that year was a Century of Progress, and celebrated man's innovations in architecture, science, technology and transportation...
- List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
External links
- http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/225.html Encyclopedia of Chicago history
- http://www.nps.gov/archive/indu/History/Century_of_Progress_homes.htm Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Century of Progress Historic District