INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Join a National Park Service ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for a tour of five historic homes from the1933 Chicago World’s Fair on Saturday, October 20 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Each tour will last one hour and fifteen minutes and includes an inside look at the Cypress Log Cabin, House of Tomorrow, Florida Tropical, Armco Ferro House, and the Wieboldt-Rostone home. Reservations are required and there is a $15 per person fee to cover the cost of shuttle buses between the parking lot and the houses.
These tours are offered in partnership with the Dunes National Park Association (DNPA), who will begin taking reservations on the DNPA website. The DNPA is a nonprofit organization that supports the protection, preservation, and promotion of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
The original 1933 “Century of Progress” houses featured innovative building materials, modern home appliances, and new construction techniques for their time. The houses were moved to northwest Indiana in 1935 to promote a new housing community and were included in the national lakeshore boundary in the early 1970’s. Today, the historic homes are undergoing rehabilitation with private funds through a partnership with Indiana Landmarks and private citizens.
ALL TOURS ARE NOW SOLD OUT
Reservations for the tours open on September 10 at 8:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time. Click here to register. Each reservation includes a shuttle bus from a remote parking lot. (There is no on-site parking available. Parking will be located at the overflow parking lot on Mineral Springs Rd. across from Chellberg Farm.)
Please follow the on-line reservation instructions carefully and be sure to print out your reservation ticket, note the location of the event’s parking lot, and be sure to arrive at the parking lot at least 45 minutes before your scheduled tour time to allow for shuttling to the homes. If you have additional questions, please call the national lakeshore information desk at 219-395-1882. To download the flyer, click here. To download FAQs, click here.
To learn more about the homes featured on the tour, visit a Century of Progress Homes exhibit at a Porter County museum.
The Depot at Beverly Shores Art Gallery, Gift Shop & Museum
Exhibit: Century of Progress Homes and the 1933-34 Worlds Fair
When: Exhibit opening is September 7, 5pm - 7 pm. The exhibit ends on October 28.
On 10/20, the day of the Century of Progress tours, the museum will have extended hours: 9 am - 5 pm.
Porter County Museum (POCO)
Exhibit: Bronco John's Western Show (Bronco John performed at the COP Worlds Fair)
When: Permanent exhibit
Click here to view an article and photo of the exhibit from NWI Times.
Porter County Visitor's Center
Exhibit: Century of Progress Homes Tour (Glass cabinets with display materials, architectural details and memorabilia from the Century of Progress World's Fair)
When: September 25 - October 31.
