“Things You Might Not Know About the Courthouse” Presentation
Mar
27
1:00 PM13:00

“Things You Might Not Know About the Courthouse” Presentation

  • Pines Village Retirement Communities (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The “X” in this image marks the location of the clock tower and offers a rare glimpse from the aftermath of the December 1934 courthouse fire. This image and several others were a 2014 gift of Chuck and Marian Worden.

What do you know about the iconic Porter County Courthouse? Join PoCo Muse Executive Director and Porter County Historian Kevin Matthew Pazour for a fun and informative presentation about the history of the courthouse at Pines Village Retirement Communities on Thursday, March 27, at 1p.

This presentation is free and open to the general public. Can’t make it on the day of the talk? Don’t worry. We will be video recording the program to share online at a later date.

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The V&N Field Trip
Apr
5
2:00 PM14:00

The V&N Field Trip

PoCo Muse Supporter and electric rail enthusiast Ken Hill will lead a guided walking tour, bus trip, and hike that follows the path of the Valparaiso & Northern line from its southern terminus to Long Lake. There will be a decent amount of walking during this field trip, so please dress accordingly with comfortable footwear. Spots are extremely limited, so RSVP by calling or emailing the PoCo Muse.

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Explore the Stagecoach Inn
Apr
26
10:00 AM10:00

Explore the Stagecoach Inn

During the two-week PoCo Muse closure for exhibit changeover, we will be hosting events at other county history institutions.  Join us for a visit to Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn. The building was constructed in 1849 by James McCune for use as a way-station along the stagecoach route between Detroit and St. Louis.

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Explore the Hour Glass Museum
May
3
10:00 AM10:00

Explore the Hour Glass Museum

The Hour Glass Museum at 8 Lupine Lane in Ogden Dunes, April 1939.

Head up to Ogden Dunes for another opportunity to visit a local museum during our short closure. The Hour Glass was built by Professor O. D. Frank in 1933. The building now houses the Historical Society of Ogden Dunes’ archives and collection of artifacts and artwork.

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Public Exhibit Opening of "Life Work: The Artists Hazel & Vin Hannell"
May
9
10:00 AM10:00

Public Exhibit Opening of "Life Work: The Artists Hazel & Vin Hannell"

his featured exhibition explores what it means to be an artist by mapping the artistic journeys of Vin & Hazel Hannell from Chicago to Furnessville and beyond. The Hannells had prolific, passionate, and generous careers that established them as emblematic regional artists of the mid-twentieth century.

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History on Tap: Early Industry
Jun
4
5:00 PM17:00

History on Tap: Early Industry

History on Tap at the Washington Street Tap Room

Talk local history over a drink with friends, history professionals, and amateur historians between 5 and 7p. A short talk will be given at 6p about early industry in Porter County. 

Free event for 21 and older; drinks not included.

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Living History: WWII
Jun
7
10:00 AM10:00

Living History: WWII

Living history interpreters from an event in 2023.

Help us commemorate 80 years since the end of WWII. Our living history crew will be demonstrating a variety of military roles spanning the length and breadth of the war, showing US forces, as well as those of our allies.  See uniforms, equipment, rations, and weaponry of everyday soldiers from the era.

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Almira Fifield Historical Marker Dedication
Jun
21
11:00 AM11:00

Almira Fifield Historical Marker Dedication

Join our friends from the Daughters of the American Revolution for the dedication of an Indiana Historical Marker honoring Almira Fifield, a Valparaiso resident who was one of the earliest females to attend medical school and served in the Civil War. The event takes place  on Franklin Street just south of the PoCo Muse.

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"Vin & Hazel Hannell: Creativity, Community, Conservation" Exhibition Series Kick-Off Reception
Jun
21
3:00 PM15:00

"Vin & Hazel Hannell: Creativity, Community, Conservation" Exhibition Series Kick-Off Reception

The Hannells entertain friends with a picnic outside their pottery studio. From Ceramic Industry, 1954.

Learn about artists Vin & Hazel Hannell in Life Work and celebrate the collaborative exhibit series, Vin & Hazel Hannell: Creativity, Community, Conservation, between the PoCo Muse and other community arts organizations by attending this kick-off event. Light refreshments will be available.

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DHS: Duneland's Stories of the Underground Railroad
Feb
20
1:30 PM13:30

DHS: Duneland's Stories of the Underground Railroad

  • Hawthorne Park Community Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

A United States map showing the differing routes that freedom seekers would take to reach freedom. Courtesy NPS.

Serena Ard will present "Duneland's Stories of the Underground Railroad." Learn about the area individuals and locations connected to the Underground Railroad, the difficulties in studying this topic, and the efforts to establish NWI as part of a national UGRR network.

This program of the Duneland Historical Society (DHS) is free and open to the public. All regular DHS programs take place at 1:30 in the afternoon inside the Hawthorne Park Community Building in The Town of Porter. For more information, contact Serena at (219) 983-9715. 

Although not formally linked, the DHS and PoCo Muse have worked together regularly since the 1940s.

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Winter Weather Closure
Feb
16
11:00 AM11:00

Winter Weather Closure

This circa 1926 photograph shows famed inventor and engineer Noah Amstutz (1864-1957) shoveling snow outside of his laboratory and home on Yellowstone Trail in Valparaiso.

Due to the mix of wind and winter weather, we will be closed to the public today, Sunday, February 16, 2025. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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Snow Closure
Feb
12
3:30 PM15:30

Snow Closure

Image: This January 1967 image of Wendell's Marathon in downtown Valparaiso offers a snowy glimpse of the site that is presently occupied by the Porter County Museum in 2025.

Due to the increased snowfall, we are closing earlier than expected at 3:30p on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

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Curated Tour with Quinn
Jan
25
10:00 AM10:00

Curated Tour with Quinn

Sign up for this special curated tour with Visitor Experience Manager, Quinn Albert (pictured above). This in-depth tour will include additional local stories and feature other objects not normally on display. Don’t miss it, as no two curated tours will be the same.

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