Last updated: 5/14/2011
La Porte, Indiana
Street Address
2405 Indiana Ave.
La Porte, IN 46350
Mailing Address
2405 Indiana Ave. Ste. 1
La Porte, IN 46350
phone: 219-324-6767
fax: 219-324-9029
e-mail: info@laportecountyhistory.org
web: www.laportecountyhistory.org

Staff

James Rodgers
phone: 219-324-6767
Susie Richter
phone: 219-324-6767
Description

We have thousands of items on permanent display. We are now able to have more programs that involve the community. We try to have a current display that changes every few months.

The majority of the downstairs level of the museum is given over to the W. A Jones Collection of Ancient Weapons. William A. Jones owned an iron foundry in Chicago, traveling around the world in search of items for his collection. Many of the guns you can see on display were purchased in such faraway locations as Mexico City, Paris, Dublin, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Cairo, as well as all over the United States.

On view in the La Porte County Historical Society Museum is the Kesling Automobile Collection, consisting of more than 30 vintage automobiles collected by Dr. Peter C. Kesling and his wife Charlene. They range in age from a 1903 Winton to a 1982 DeLorean, the car made famous in the movie “Back to the Future.” The 1903 Winton was driven from California to New York City by Dr. and Mrs. Kesling in 2003, retracing the path of the first coast to coast auto journey by Dr. Horatio Jackson, one hundred years earlier.

History

Historical Society is 102 years old. Recently moved into a beautiful building.

Artifact Collections

Kesling Automobile collection. W.A. Jones Gun Collection. Thousands of artifacts dealing with the history of La Porte County

Research Collections

Research Library, archives

Governance

La Porte Co. Historical Society Board of Directors

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: False

Exhibitions
Museum Events
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

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Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

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