On the subject of glass windows, America’s First Glass House, built for the 1933 Chicago’s World Fair, is now being restored at the Indiana Dunes National Park.
I called the IDNP office back in March 2024 to ask them about the walls of glass on the house moved to the Lake Michigan shoreline town of Beverly Shores, a certified Bird Town. The IDNP surrounds the town on the east, west and south sides.
I was referred to Judy Collins, historic architect, National Park Service, and I expressed concerns about the glass house. I mentioned information on bird-friendly modifications to deter bird collisions with glass. She upheld the glass windows as the main historic feature and cannot use anything that would cause an adverse effect!
In a different attempt to help prevent bird collisions, I recently contacted the BP Whiting Refinery (a funder of Chicago organizations), Tamera Lienhart, State and Local Affairs.
I suggested bird-friendly projects to be included in their Master Plan on the 41 properties near the Lake Michigan shoreline they recently purchased in a secret agreement from the City of Whiting. One suggestion was to upgrade the former insolvent glass Mascot Hall of Fame Museum they now own with window enhancements to prevent bird strikes, and to install bird-friendly windows on new buildings. Another common suggestion was for green roof gardens. She responded the suggestions would be passed along to the BP real estate department.
Carolyn A. Marsh
Whiting, Lake County, IN
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_adce950e-e0e1-11ee-acff-133448051661.html
March 13,2024 - Indiana Dunes National Park lands additional federal funds to restore House of Tomorrow and other historic buildings
Excerpts:
The Indiana Dunes National Park has been awarded $22 million from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund to restore the House of Tomorrow in the Century of Progress District, the Bailly Homestead and the Good Fellow Camp Lodge. The projects initially secured $16 million over a year ago but got $6 million in additional funds so the renovation projects could be fully implemented, rather than partially, Supervisory Ranger Bruce Rowe said....
Through the restoration of these iconic buildings, we are preserving key elements of the park's cultural heritage and creating opportunities for current and future visitors to experience the beauty and history of the park, Deputy Superintendent Chris Pergiel said....
The Chicago architect George Fred Keck designed the House of Tomorrow, a retro-futuristic glass house that was displayed at the 1933 Chicago's World Fair attended by more than 39 million people from around the globe. "America's First Glass House" pioneered….
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