Updated: 1/10/2011 
La Porte County Historical Society, Inc.
LaPorte, Indiana
Description

We are housed in a spacious, Colonial-style building with ample parking and lawns for outside events. Listed by the American Automobile Association as a 'GEM Site,' we offer interesting, educational displays 5 days a week, along with special events such as our annual Civil War Weekend in June, and Old Car Show in July. Special theme displays, guest speakers, and more are routinely scheduled.

History

The La Porte County Historical Society, Inc. was established in January 2006 and incorporated in 1921. We celebrated our 100th birthday in 2006. Soon after incorportion, we started to collect items in anticipation of having a museum. We had display space in an early library and later in the Carnegie Library. In 1938, the County offered us space in the basement of the La Porte County Court House. When the La Porte County Annex (Complex) was designed, an area was included to provide for a museum location for the Society. On Septembr 17, 1978, the Museum doors were opened in that location which offered us 17,788 square feet for displays, period rooms, a research area, office and storage space. October 15, 2005, we closed the doors there due to the need by the County for the space. From that time until our opening in our new locaion August 8, 2006, we were in the process of the move to the new facility.

Artifact Collections

All items displayed have been donated with the stipulation that they are connected in some way with the history of La Porte County. No items are displayed on loan. This museum displays thousands of objects, including displays of antique toys, dolls, coins, cameras, glassware, natural history, geology, two operating model railroads, early radios, 35 antique cars including a Duesenberg, 2 Cords, Studebakers, a rare Tucker, Auburns, and more. 14 'period' rooms depict a pioneer log cabin, Victorian parlor and dining room, 1920's kitchen and living room, General Store, One-Room Schoolhouse, and others.

Research Collections

We have a considerable archival collection of La Porte County related documents and printed material. We have a library for researchers focusing on La Porte County information. We have a small Indiana collection and surrounding counties.

Programs

We offer guided tours to school groups and any organization wishing to participate. Our educational materials are not loaned out--they may be used onsite. At each of the Society's meetings (8 a year) the program is of an historical nature. These are open to the general public.

Governance

The museum is a project of the La Porte County Historical Society, Inc. which was established in 1906. A 12-person board of directors is responsible for the function of the Society and its Museum.

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: False

Services
Gift Shop
Event Rental
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