The iconic House of Tomorrow at Indiana Dunes National Park in Beverly Shores has been the topic of news stories across the world.

The history of the futuristic 12-sided glass home built for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair and then moved across Lake Michigan is fascinating.

Join Indiana Landmarks on July 15 at 6 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks Center in Indianapolis for an evening featuring a short documentary film about the 30-year journey to save and restore the home, The New House of Tomorrow: Restoring America’s First Glass House, by producer and director Glenn Pratt.

Then hear from an award-winning team of specialists in restoration and design including Charlie Hasbrouck of bKL Architecture, Jeff Berglund of Berglund Construction, and Mike Ford of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, as well as Todd Zeiger, vice president of heritage trades and director of the northern regional office for Indiana Landmarks.

House of Tomorrow history

The House of Tomorrow debuted at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair as one of several model houses offering an optimistic look into the future of residential architecture and the promise of science and technology to improve daily life. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative houses in modern architectural design, it introduced forward-thinking conveniences, including an “iceless” refrigerator, the first electric dishwasher, an open floor plan, and even a hangar for the airplane for what architect George Fred Keck believed would become standard transportation for families of the future.

When the World’s Fair closed in 1934, the house was shipped by barges across Lake Michigan to Beverly Shores, an Indiana resort community developer Robert Bartlett created as a vacation destination for Chicagoans.

Fast forward to today, and the building has sat vacant since 1999, shrouded in plywood and weatherproof wrapping in Indiana Dunes National Park until 2023, when the park received $22 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior with $4 million allocated for exterior restoration of the House of Tomorrow. Work began in 2024, guided by a plan developed and funded by Indiana Landmarks to recapture the home’s 1933 appearance while incorporating modern technology.

WHAT: The House of Tomorrow Today

WHEN: July 15, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave., Indianapolis 46202 and online

COST: $10 per person; free for Indiana Landmarks members

TICKETS: https://www.indianalandmarks.org/event/the-house-of-tomorrow-today/

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org