Faded architectural star of Chicago world’s fair now in peril
By Lee BeyFaded architectural star of Chicago world’s fair now in peril
By Lee BeyA close-up of the space beneath the home, taken during my visit the house two years ago, shows the deterioration:
The home and four others from the fair sit on a lakeside spot that ultimately became the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore—and are owned by the National Park Service. The park service cannot sell the homes, but had rented them out—and has not done much to maintain the houses—since the 1960s. The House of Tomorrow and the other fair homes were named to the Indiana Landmarks’ “Most Endangered” list in 1993.
In 1996, Indiana Landmarks arranged a new deal with the National Park Service that would allow residents to live in the homes for free in exchange for fixing them up. The program has helped rescue two of the homes with the most spectacular save being the Florida Tropical House, once a flamingo-colored wreck. Here it is now:
Indiana Landmarks 2012 Most Endangered list can be found here.