Old Lighthouse Museum Michigan City Historical Society

Our winter apparel is now 50% off the lowest ticketed price.
We are open this weekend and next weekend from 12-3pm CST.

Navy fleece quarter zips - now $12.50 each.
(sizes available are small, medium, large, XL and one 3XL)

Tan fleece vests - now $11 each.
(sizes available are large & XL)

Navy pullover hoodies - now $15 each.
(sizes available are small, large & XL)

Navy crewneck sweatshirts - now $12 each.
(sizes available are small, medium, large, XL and one 3XL)

Sorry, shipping is not available. Get yours while supplies last!

The entrance to the Michigan City, Indiana Harbor 136 years ago.

This photo was taken from the Hoosier Slide by local photographer Edward F. Bailey in December 1887.

Come join us this evening for First Friday for a Christmas scavenger hunt from 5-8pm CST.
21 Christmas ornaments are hidden throughout the museum. Find them to win a small prize! Admission is FREE tonight only. Light refreshments will be served.

ALL Old Lighthouse Museum sweatshirts, hoodies & fleece tops will be 50% off the lowest ticketed price this month. We still have Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse ornaments in stock for $15 a piece. Get them while supplies last! We also have many other great items in our gift shop made by local artists & photographers. Also, if you spend $25 or more in the gift shop, you will receive a small free Michigan City themed gift. (while supplies last)

We will also be open the first 3 weekends of December from 12-3pm. Regular admission costs will apply on those Saturdays & Sundays. There is no charge if you would like to visit the gift shop only.

We have plenty of new items stocked in our gift shop for the holiday season! Spend $25 or more and get a free Michigan City themed gift.

ALL Old Lighthouse Museum logo sweatshirts, hoodies & fleece tops will be 50% off the lowest ticketed price. We still have Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse ornaments in stock. Get them while supplies last! We also have plenty of magnets and other Christmas ornaments made by local artists. They make for great gifts!

We will be open this Friday from 5-8pm for our Christmas scavenger hunt and this Saturday & Sunday from 12-3pm CST. Regular admission rates apply to visit the museum on Saturday & Sunday. There is no charge if you would like to visit the gift shop only.

Old Lighthouse Museum updates.

We are closed for November, however, we will be back open for First Friday on December 1st from 5-8pm CST. Stay tuned for First Friday event details. We will also be open the first 3 weekends of December from 12-3pm CST.

We will then be closed until April 3rd, 2024 for our 51st season. Our office will be open from Monday - Friday during the off season. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation to the museum, please contact us at 219-872-6133 or email [email protected]. We are always looking for new items to put on display!

Come join us this evening for First Friday from 5-8pm CT.
Admission is free! Explore the museum and learn more about local history. We also have plenty of lighthouse ornaments and other neat items made by local artists in our gift shop. Light refreshments will be served. We hope to see you!

This is the last week of the regular season at the Old Lighthouse Museum. Our last day of the 50th season is Sunday, October 29. We are open from 1-4pm CT. We will also be open on December weekends only from 1-3pm.

We would like to give a huge thanks to ALL of our docents & volunteers for making this season a great success!

We also would like to give a special thanks to all of the support from the City of Michigan City, Parks & Recreation Department, Michigan City Port Authority, Visit Michigan City LaPorte Visitors Center, Harbor Country Adventures, Lake Life Social, Michigan City Special Events, upFRONT Creative, Captain Ed's Furniture Showroom, Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, The Barker Welfare Foundation, Michigan City Historical Society members, and the Stimley family for their contributions towards the Eastland Memorial.

Our mission is dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting the history of Michigan City.

Interested in becoming a member? Historical Society Members receive free admission to the Old Lighthouse Museum, access to the Historical Society’s library (by appointment), and a subscription to the Historical Society’s Newsletter. Stop in today to become a member or sign up through our website: www.mchistorical.org

This photo of the 1858 Old Lighthouse was taken by 1st Assistant Lighthouse Keeper Thomas E. Martin in 1913.

We are open today from 1-4pm CT.
The Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse ornaments are going fast. They are for sale in our gift shop for $15 a piece. They are made of stainless steel and measure approximately 2-1/4" x 3". They make perfect gifts!

Miss Colfax's Light books are back in stock in our gift shop for $18. Each book is signed by the author Aimee Bissonette. These are great books for children! We are open today from 1-4pm.

Miss Colfax's Light written by Aimee Bissonette and illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen is a true story about Harriet Colfax s remarkable tenure as the lighthouse keeper at The Michigan City Lighthouse in Michigan City, Indiana.

She applied for the position in 1861 when she was 37 years old after her brother fell ill and closed his newspaper where she had been working. This left her with no way to support herself. When the appointment came through Harriet and life-long friend Ann Hartwell moved into the lighthouse and made it their home. Many thought Harriet would not be able to do the job because of her slight physical build and inexperience, but she proved them wrong as she kept her light on consistently for forty-three years until she retired in 1904 at the age of 80!

Looking for a lighthouse passport stamp? We have 2 stamps available. The 1904 Michigan City East Pierhead & 1858 Old Lighthouse Museum stamps are available in our gift shop.
We also have passport books for sale.

Old Lighthouse Museum Throwback Thursday.
This 1917 photo of workers repairing the timber pier is from the Lighthouse Keeper Thomas Martin collection.

Do you have any neat old photos or artifacts of Michigan City that you are trying to find a home for? We now have a donation section on our website! www.mchistorical.org/donate

Join us this evening for First Friday from 5-8pm CT.

We will also be open today from 1-4pm. Regular admission fees apply from 1-4pm. $5 for adults & $2 for ages 5-13.

We will be CLOSED tomorrow, Saturday, October 7. We will be OPEN Sunday, October 8 from 1-4pm.

It's a beautiful day to visit the Old Lighthouse Museum!
We are open today from 1-4pm CT.
Here is a 1923 photo by Assistant Lighthouse Keeper Thomas E. Martin.

We have Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse stainless steel ornaments back in stock! The holidays will be here before you know it. Get them while they are in stock! $15 a piece. Sorry, shipping is not available. We also have many other Michigan City souvenirs in our gift shop that would look great in your home or would make a perfect gift.
We will be open today from 1-4 p.m. CT. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. The last day of our regular season is October 29.

Old Lighthouse Museum Throwback Thursday!

The Steamer S.S. United States traveled between Michigan City and Chicago for six seasons as a companion ship to the S.S. Theodore Roosevelt. She was built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1919. Thousands turned out to greet her when she steamed into the Michigan City harbor on May 22, 1909. With a capacity of 2,000 people, she brought thousands of tourists from Chicago each day during the summer until 1915, when she was sold to a transportation company in Milwaukee and put on a run between Milwaukee and Grand Haven. In October 1916, she was sold for $500,000 and used as a pleasure boat, taking her to the Atlantic seaboard. During World War I, the steamship was commandeered by the U.S. government and was once again sold to a Canadian Great Lakes steamship line. The ship was destroyed by a fire on Lake Erie across from Port Huron at an unknown date.

This photo was taken by Michigan City Assistant Lighthouse Keeper Thomas Martin in 1915.

✨Historian of the Year Awards are Tonight!✨

Join us tonight, Tuesday, September 19, at 7pm to celebrate the 2023 Historians of the Year! Learn more interesting facts about these five honorees and their history in La Porte County!

The five honorees are Gloria Arndt, Jasper Packard, the Michigan City Historical Society, Fenker's Furniture, and Horizon Bank.

This event is free to the public and refreshments will follow the program.

We hope to see everyone tonight to celebrate these Historians of the Year!

Michigan City Historical Society Throwback Thursday. The first Franklin Street Bridge in 1891. The 1858 Lighthouse & Hoosier Slide can be seen in the background. This bridge was replaced with a lift bridge in 1906. The current Franklin Street Bridge was dedicated May 20, 1932.

We are always looking for historical items related to the history of Michigan City for our archives or to put on display. Have anything you would like to donate? Please contact us at [email protected] or 219-872-6133.

It's a beautiful day to visit the Old Lighthouse Museum! We are open until 4 today. We will also be open this evening from 5-8pm for First Friday. Check out or gift shop for unique Michigan City themed items created by local artists!
𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.
We will be CLOSED tomorrow, Saturday, September 2.
We will be OPEN Sunday, September 3 from 1-4pm CT.

Follow "Michigan City Catwalk “Get me Lit” for more information!

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095140481135

New items were added to our gift shop recently! We will be open from 1-4pm today. Regular hours are 1-4pm Wednesday-Sunday.
There is no admission cost if you would like to visit the gift shop only.

We will be closed this Saturday & Sunday for the Great Lakes Grand Prix, however, we will be open this week from Wed-Friday 1-4pm Central Time. We also will be closed for First Friday from 5-8pm.

The award-winning Great Lakes Grand Prix plunges into the first weekend of August each year. See the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore boats dash and splash along the southern edge of Lake Michigan, visible from Washington Park beach and shoreline. Meet boat owners, racers and team members staged throughout Washington Park. This free, action-packed weekend boasts a boat parade, block party, live entertainment, family activities, festival food and drinks and the ultimate in power-boat racing.

https://greatlakesgrandprix.com/

This Saturday at the Old Lighthouse Museum.

We are also pleased to announce that author and former Curator/Director of Michigan City's Old Lighthouse Musuem, Patricia Gruse Harris, will join us at our 50th anniversary celebration on July 22nd, from 10:30am - 12:30pm to sign her new book, "Keepers of the Michigan City Light ''. This new book shares the stories of all of the lighthouse keepers and assistant keepers who kept our light burning from 1837 until 1940. The book will also be available in our gift shop.

A view of the Michigan City, Indiana Harbor around 1915.
Photo by Michigan City Lighthouse Keeper & prolific photographer Thomas E. Martin

It's a beautiful day out today!

We are open from 1-4pm today.
We are also open this evening from 5-8pm for First Friday. Admission from 5-8pm only is free!

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟐!

Join us on Saturday, July 22 at 10:45AM - 4:00PM CT at Michigan City’s Old Lighthouse Museum as we celebrate our 50th anniversary!

The day will begin with a fanfare performed by the Michigan City Municipal Band followed by a memorial service and the laying of a wreath in Trail Creek, by members of the Michigan City US Coast Guard Station, to honor the 844 lives lost on the S.S. Eastland when it capsized in the Chicago River on July 24, 1915.

Guest speakers will tell the story of the Eastland and recount the history of the old lighthouse at the mouth of Trail Creek. After a short program honoring those who maintained the light for many years and the volunteers who have preserved the lighthouse for over 50 years, the Old Lighthouse Museum will be open free of charge until 4pm. Light refreshments will be served.

This event will be held on the Old Lighthouse Museum grounds located at 100 Heisman Harbor Road and is open to the public with no entry fee. Limited parking is available at the Old Lighthouse Museum & Millennium Plaza. Additional parking is available at Washington Park Beach with a $15 entry fee unless you have a park sticker.

Come see our newly restored Eastland Memorial. Each anchor chain link represents the 844 passengers who lost their lives on the Eastland. The Old Lighthouse Museum Michigan City Historical Society would like to thank the Stimley family & crew for their contributions towards the remodel of the Eastland Memorial.

For more information, please email us at [email protected] or by phone at (219) 872-6133.

We have over 100 Harbour Lights Lighthouses in stock in our gift shop. Featuring lighthouses all over the country!
$15 each tax included. No box included. We are open from 1-4pm today. No admission is required to visit the gift shop only.
Sorry, we do not have any of the Michigan City lights for sale.

Tickets for our 50th anniversary fundraiser boat cruise are still available. The cruise is this Saturday.

We are open today from 1-4pm. Regular hours are 1-4pm Wednesday - Sunday. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. If you cannot make it during those hours, please give us a call at
(219) 872-6133 or email [email protected]

We have Michigan City East Pierhead ornaments back in stock today. Get them while they last!

These ornaments are made of stainless steel and measure approximately 3 inches tall x 2-1/4 inches wide. Perfect for gifts!
$15 tax included.
Sorry, shipping is not available.

Our hours today for Sunday are 1-4pm CT. We are closed Mondays & Tuesdays and open Wednesday - Sunday 1-4pm CT. There is no admission fee to the museum if you would like to view the gift shop only.

Michigan City is home to the only lighthouse in Indiana. The Lighthouse Museum preserves the history of the building along with a look at how the lighthouse keepers lived and worked in the lighthouse.

We would like to thank producer John Timm from WTIU-PBS and Journey Indiana for putting this wonderful video together.

Journey Indiana - A Light at the End of the Lake Michigan City is home to the only lighthouse in Indiana. The Lighthouse Museum preserves the history of the building along with a look at how the lighthouse ...

Tickets for our 50th anniversary fundraiser boat cruise are still available!

We are open today from 1-4pm. Regular hours are 1-4pm Wednesday - Sunday. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. If you cannot make it during those times, please give us a call at
(219) 872-6133 or email [email protected]

As we celebrate our 50th season, we would like to thank all of the hard working volunteers over the 50+ years who dedicated their time and skills to make the Old Lighthouse Museum what it is today.

This would not have been possible without the help from volunteers, grants, local government support and generous donations from businesses and individuals. The Michigan City Historical Society will continue its mission of preserving history for generations to come.

Here is a black and white photo dated 1964 compared to now.
The replica lantern tower was installed on February 6, 1973. It was replaced with the current tower on September 30, 2014 and is open to the public by admission to the museum. Our hours are Wednesday - Sunday from 1-4pm CT.

Brrr! It's a cold one out there today! ❄️ We will be open tonight for First Friday from 5-8 pm CST. Come join us this evening for light snacks & refreshments and play a crossword puzzle game with a few prizes! Admission is free tonight.

Winter view of lighthouse and fog signal. Michigan City, Indiana.
This photo was taken after the January 1918 Blizzard. Standing on the ice is Jessie Armstrong with daughters Sylvia & Amber. Family of Lighthouse Keeper Thomas J. Armstrong (Head Keeper from 1904-1918).

The Old Lighthouse Museum Michigan City Historical Society would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Here is a winter photo of the keeper's dwelling that was taken from Trail Creek by Assistant Lighthouse Keeper Thomas E. Martin in 1915.