Offering Tours of Buckminster Fuller Dome Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TITLE: Fuller Dome Home Tours Scheduled for Eclipse Weekend

Public tours of the iconic R. Buckminster Fuller Geodesic Dome Residence in Carbondale, Illinois, will be conducted during the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse weekend. The non-profit Fuller Dome Home organization will be hosting the tours on August 19 and 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. It is notable that this dome is located at a point on the eclipse path that is within just eight miles of the point of longest duration.

It was while Fuller lived in Carbondale that he achieved great international fame, traveling the world, collaborating, lecturing and building. Eleven of the 28 books he authored were published here, and he secured nine of his 27 patents, one of which was for the geodesic building structure. While at SIU, he was awarded 23 of his 47 honorary doctorates as well as Harvard University’s Charles Eliot Norton Chair of Poetry. He was not licensed as an architect but won Gold Medals in the field of Architecture from the American Institute of Architects and Royal Institute of British Architects. He designed the U.S. Pavilion for the Montreal Expo ’67.

With the goal of fostering Fuller’s legacy and sharing it with the world community, the Fuller Dome Home group is continuing the process of restoration of his home at 407 S. Forest in Carbondale. This is the one dome home in which Bucky and his wife Anne actually lived (1960 through 1971) during his tenure with the Design Department at Southern Illinois University. The exterior of the dome has been restored to its original colors, and restoration of the interior is the next major phase expected to require an additional $180,000 in funds to meet the requirements of Save America’s Treasures grant and to maintain this dome’s position on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Bucky is still known around the world as “Buckminster Fuller of Carbondale, Illinois.” To this day, when SIU staff and others travel the world and mention they are from Carbondale, Illinois, it is not uncommon to hear the response, “Oh, yes, Buckminster Fuller!” He is recognized around the world for patenting and popularizing the geodesic dome, designing the Dymaxion car and house, and working toward applying the principles of science to solving the problems of humanity, as well as many other innovations.

The Fuller Challenge: “Make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone.”

For more information about Buckminster Fuller and the Fuller Dome Home tours, contact Jon Davey, Board of Directors President, SIU Design and Architecture, 618-559-8931, visit the website, www.fullerdomehome.com or fullerdomehome@hotmail.com or FB:buckyfullerdomehome. Or call Judy Ashby, Board Secretary, 618-549-5578.