La Porte County Historical Society Museum

Passover
2020-04-09

Smithsonian Day
2020-04-04

Indiana Historical Society exhibit “Hoosiers and Their Hooch” closes
2020-04-02

First Day of Spring
2020-03-19

Museum Closure Press Release
2020-03-17
Museum Closure Press Release, March 17, 2020
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum will be closed, effective immediately. Based on recommendations by the Indiana Governor’s office, the Indiana State Department of Health, and the La Porte County Government, the La Porte County Historical Society Museum will be closed to the public, including all programs, meetings, events, and tours until further notice. The top priority of the La Porte County Historical Society is the health and safety of our community, guests, volunteers and staff members. We will continue to evaluate the situation on an ongoing basis, and every attempt will be made to reschedule events for a later date.
Please stay tuned to our Facebook page and webpage, www.laportecountyhistory.org, for updates on the status of the Museum including opening date and the rescheduling of events. If you have any questions, please call 219-324-6767, or email the Museum at info@laportecountyhistory.org.
Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience as we navigate these uncharted circumstances.
We appreciate your understanding, and your ongoing support of the La Porte County Historical Society and Museum. We hope you will stay safe and healthy in the days to come, and we look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Historical Society Meeting, La Porte County Historical Society Museum
2020-03-17
La Porte County Historical Society Museum, 7:00 p.m., program to be announced

St. Patrick’s Day
2020-03-17

Daylight Savings Time Begins
2020-03-08

Hoosiers and Their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition
2020-03-05 00:00 - 2020-04-02 00:00 (America/Chicago)
New Exhibit March 5th through April 2nd: “Hoosiers and Their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition”
The Indiana Historical Society’s Traveling Exhibit, “Hoosiers and Their Hooch,” will be hosted by the La Porte County Historical Society Museum from Thursday, March 5, 2020 through Thursday, April 2, 2020.
Join us for a trip back to the rise and fall of prohibition in Indiana and throughout the country, from the temperance movement of the 1900s to the repeal of the 18th amendment in 1933. Learn about the Anti-Saloon League, and the bootleggers, moonshiners, and bathtub gin distillers who found their way around the law.
Regular admission rates apply: $5.00 adults, $4.00 adults 60 and older, children 18 and under free. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is handicapped accessible.
Photo: A 1920 Indianapolis news photo shows police displaying a large still and 38 gallons of “white mule” whiskey confiscated from the New Bethel raid.

Indiana Historical Society exhibit “Hoosiers and Their Hooch” opens
2020-03-05

Ash Wednesday
2020-02-26

President's Day
2020-02-17

Valentine's Day
2020-02-14

Groundhog Day
2020-02-02

La Porte County Historical Society Organized 1906
2020-01-30

Ice Sculpting Show 2020 - Jan 25th
2020-01-25 09:00 - 12:00
January 25, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Ice Sculpting Show 2020
On Saturday, January 25, 2020, the La Porte County Historical Society Museum will be hosting its second annual Ice Sculpting Show on the front lawn from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All are invited to watch the ice sculptors carve their masterpieces out of ice blocks. Ice sculptors will chip away at large blocks of ice with tools including chisels, blow torches, and chain saws.
The ice carvers belong to the Michiana Ice Carvers Artisans, a group of ice carvers from northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan whose goal is to advance the art of ice sculpture and to educate the public and future carvers. Five of the ice carvers will follow-up with a team competition in the 2020 Ice Alaska World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska, in February (www.icealaska.org).
The ice is provided by City’s Pure Ice. Museum admission will be free to everyone, compliments of Bud Lies, owner of City’s Pure Ice.
The Museum which will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An ice industry display will be featured. Learn about the various ice harvesting companies in La Porte County, their locations, and the tools of the trade. Snow Ball and Ice Tong scavenger hunts and a coloring corner will be available for children and adults.
The Ice Carving demonstration at the Museum coincides with La Porte’s WinterFest celebration activities scheduled from Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26. WinterFest is sponsored by the La Porte Park and Recreation Department.
La Porte has a long and significant history of ice harvesting. In December of 1873, there were 43 ice houses on La Porte County lakes. The largest single deposit of ice put in storage during the last week of February 1914 was some 65,000 cubic feet at Wolf Lake, enough to supply ice for 56 drinks per year for every person living in the United States at that time. In February 1938, it was announced that there would be no more ice harvesting on La Porte lakes. Warmer weather and the advent of “artificial” ice and electrical refrigeration ended the ice harvesting era in La Porte County.
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum’s regular hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The Museum is located at 2405 Indiana Avenue, La Porte.
Thank you to Fern Eddy Schultz for her information on the ice industry in La Porte County.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2020-01-20

Closed, New Year's Day
2020-01-01

Night at the Giese Church - Dec 20
2019-12-20 17:00 - 19:00
Join the La Porte County Historical Society Museum for a Christmas night to remember. The Giese church will be lit up, and will take you back in time. Hot beverages and refreshments will be served. $1.00 admission for ages 18 and older, children under 18 are free.

Gingerbread House Contest - Dec 14 - 21
2019-12-14 - 2019-12-21
Please join the La Porte County Historical Society Museum for this celebration of Christmas. Professionals and amateurs alike are welcome to submit their gingerbread creations. It can be a house or any other building. Turn in your masterpieces between December 10 to 14. Judging will be on December 21, and the buildings will be displayed at the museum through the holidays.

The Man Who Killed Belle Gunness (Part 1)
2019-11-19 19:00
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, the La Porte County Historical Society will host the program “The Man Who Killed Belle Gunness (Part 1)” presented by La Porte County Historical Society Board member Judge William Boklund. The program is free to the public and will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Museum, 2405 Indiana Avenue, La Porte.
Often when the story of Belle Gunness is told, it ends abruptly after the discovery of her crimes, leaving unexplored the great mysteries of the case. Did she die in the fire, or did she get away?
Was she murdered by Ray Lamphere, or did she poison another woman and place her corpse in the cellar? Some of these questions may never be completely answered, but we can determine if the prosecutor proved his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
In this program, Judge Boklund will pick up the story where others have left off, examining the sweeping madness that spread through the country after discovery of the Gunness crimes, and the things that made the criminal investigation and jury selection almost impossible. He also will take a closer look at the testimony of the four doctors who autopsied the bodies that were recovered from the cellar. Their testimony was the only evidence the prosecutor had that could have proven that the adult body in the cellar was that of Belle Gunness, and that she had died as a result of the fire. Judge Boklund will share these and other new insights into the Gunness mystery!

Endangered Heritage - Oct 1 - 31
2019-10-01 - 2019-10-31
The La Porte County Historical Society will present Endangered Heritage, a collections care advocacy exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society, providing information about the need for good collections management. It will give examples of the dangers to objects in collections and information about the collections care needs of Indiana’s organizations. The exhibit focuses on the needs of heritage collecting organizations for humidity and temperature controls, adequate storage, and funds to care for their collections. Featured are solutions to the problems facing Indiana’s heritage collections, with suggestions on ways to help. Visitors to the exhibit will learn how they can assist in preserving Indiana’s history.

Free Smithsonian Museum Day, September 21st
2019-09-21
The La Porte County Historical Society is pleased to announce its participation in Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual free Museum Day. In order to visit the La Porte County Historical Society Museum for free on Saturday, September 21st, you must download a free ticket at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and one guest free access to any participating museum on September 21, 2019. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums can be found at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/search.
The annual event allows museums, zoos, and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C. facilities which offer free admission every day. The event is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Museums from all 50 states have signed up to participate. So, if you are going to be in a different part of the country, please take the opportunity to visit a museum in your area!
Please contact the Museum with any questions (219-324-6767, info@laportecountyhistory.org). The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 to 4:30.

La Porte County Historical Society Presentations: “The Making of the Mural” and “The Present and Future of Downtown La Porte” - Sept 17th
2019-09-17
The La Porte County Historical Society is happy to announce its September 17, 2019 meeting and pot-luck dinner which will be held at the First Baptist Church, 908 Jefferson, La Porte. The general public is welcome to attend. Reservations and a side dish are required for those wanting to attend the dinner. Reservations must be made no later than Friday, September 13, 2019. Please make reservations by email (info@laportecountyhistory.org), by phone (219-324-6767), or in person (2405 Indiana Ave., La Porte, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday). A main dish and beverages will be provided. There is no admission fee. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7:00 p.m.
The program is two-fold, “The Making of the Mural” and “The Present and Future of Downtown La Porte.” Tom Torluemke, the artist painting the wall mural at the corner of Lincoln Way and Monroe Street, will speak about the development and process of creating the mural. And Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP), will share insights about the most recent economic development successes in La Porte and what’s in store for the future of La Porte’s downtown development.
Tom Torluemke is an Indiana-based, contemporary American artist whose works include paintings, drawings, sculptures, and installations in a variety of mediums. Torluemke’s work has been represented in more than 100 solo, curated, and juried group shows, in addition to other projects, awards, grants, and commissions he has received. Torluemke began his teaching career at the North Shore Art League in Winnetka, Illinois in 1984. From there he taught at his alma mater, The American Academy of Art, where he received his BFA in 1996. He then taught at The School of The Art Institute and at Valparaiso University. In 1998, Torluemke began to pursue public art projects and has completed numerous projects over the past decade including murals in Hammond, Hobart, Terre Haute, and Indianapolis.
Bert Cook has worked in the economic development field for 14 years. He previously worked with the Portage Economic Development Corporation as their Executive Director and with the La Porte County Economic Development Alliance as Retention and Expansion Coordinator. Mr. Cook has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Purdue University North Central and has received development certificates from Ball State University and Purdue University North Central. Currently, he sits on a number of Boards and Commissions including The La Porte Urban Enterprise Association, The Regional Development Company, The La Porte County Revolving Loan Fund, and The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Economic Development Committee.

The Golden Age: Indiana Literature - Sep 4 - 30
2019-09-04 - 2019-09-30
Drawn from collections at IHS, Indiana State Library and Indiana University’s Lilly Library, the exhibition at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum explores what came to be known as the “Golden Age of Indiana Literature.” From 1880 to 1920, Hoosier authors achieved both national prominence and popular acclaim. A 1947 study found that Indiana authors ranked second to New York in the number of bestsellers produced in the previous 40 years. The exhibit concentrates on the lives and careers of four individuals – George Ade, Meredith Nicholson, Booth Tarkington, and James Whitcomb Riley – and includes others as well.

Annual Photo Contest - Aug 3 - 17
2019-08-03 - 2019-08-17
The theme of this year’s La Porte County Historical Society Museum’s photography contest is La Porte County Doors and Windows. The photo must be current, unframed, 8”x10”, and in black and white or color. The subject of the photograph must be in La Porte County and be at least 50 years old. The deadline for submission of the unframed photo is 4:30 p.m. on August 3, 2019, at the museum. Photographers must fill out an entry form for each photo. The photos will become property of the museum. Judging will be on August 17, 2019, and the photos will remain on display at the museum through the end of September.

12TH Annual Old Car Show - July 20
2019-07-20 09:00 - 15:00
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum will host the 12th Annual Old Car Show on Saturday, July 20. The event is open to cars that are 1989 and older. All the cars will be on display on the museum grounds. Trophies will be awarded. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m., and the fee is $15.00 per car. A DJ will be playing period music and Homerun Hot Dogs will sell food and beverages. Admission is $5.00 per car load.

Roland Lee Hockett - June 8 - Oct 5
2019-06-08 - 2019-10-05
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum is excited to announce it will be hosting an art exhibition of works by former La Porte resident Roland Hockett. Hockett, born in La Porte and a 1956 graduate of La Porte High School, spent the majority of his career as an art professor at Gulf Coast College in Panama City, Florida. Hockett earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University and then taught at La Porte High School for three years before moving to Florida.
Hockett has graciously donated a number of items from his collection to the Museum, and the majority will be on display in this exhibit. He has produced numerous paintings, sketches, and sculptures throughout his lifetime. His works have been installed in the Florida Supreme Court, Panama City Florida International Airport, and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica.
The Roland Hockett Exhibit will include approximately 30 of the artist’s works including multi-media, copper work, paintings, and sketches, both framed and unframed. The exhibited works range from his early work to later pieces.

Plow Day - April 28th
2019-04-28
Enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride from The La Porte County Historical Society Museum to the Door Prairie Round Barn for the 2019 Draft Horse Plow Day! In collaboration with the La Porte County Draft Horse Association, the museum will be OPEN from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, go to www.laportecodrafthorse.org or call us at 219-324-6767.

Belle Gunness Day - April 27th
2019-04-27
Join us on Saturday, April 27 – Belle Gunness Day! On April 27, 1908, Belle Gunness went to her attorney, Melvin E. Leliter, to have her last Will & Testament written and signed. The next morning, her house was destroyed in a fire leading to one of the most incredible murder mysteries of all time. Come spend an afternoon with Bruce Johnson, President of the La Porte County Historical Society and Gunness historian to learn about The Gunness Mystery. Please call 219-324-6767 with any questions.
