The Florida house barge-hauled to Indiana in 1935

The Florida Tropical House sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Beverly Shores, Indiana. The State of Florida built the house in 1933 for the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago to showcase the state and entice tourism. The house is part of the Century of Progress Architectural District and was designed by Miami architect Robert Law Weed in the Modernist style.

In 1935, real estate developer Robert Bartlett moved six exhibition homes to Beverly Shores by barge. The Florida Tropical House was one of these structures. It features a Floridian pink exterior and an interior painted in shades of yellow, coral, and blue. While the original plans called for poured concrete walls, the Deigaard & Preston construction firm used wood framing to save money. The design intended to create a continuous environment between the inside and outside.

The building's flat roof was modeled from a storm-proof deck from an ocean liner, including a loggia, deck, and recreation room. Because the house was moved to Indiana, the original ceramic roof tiles were replaced to endure the winters. A dumbwaiter was also located on the terrace but was removed shortly after the 1935 move.

Restoration efforts on the house began in 1997. The current lessee, William Beatty, signed the lease agreement in 2000. Under the agreement, the private owner covers all restoration costs and must open the home to the public at least once a year.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons