Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
Address
153 S. Franklin St., Valparaiso, IN 46383
Contact
Phone: (219) 465-3595
About
Once the sheriff's residence and local jail, the Porter County Museum is now home to Northwest Indiana's largest collection of area history and treasure. Exhibits are displayed throughout the building and change often because they're always finding new artifacts, every trip is a fresh adventure.
Amenities:
- Non-Smoking
Events:
Adventures of Broncho
Dates: January 02 - December 28, 2019Check website for times
"Broncho John" Sullivan was a cowboy, performer, politician, caretaker, and storyteller. He donated his collection to the PoCo Muse in 1949 to ensure that future generations would learn the legacy of the American frontier.
World War II
Dates: January 02 - December 28, 2019Check website for times
View the comprehensive World War II collection that commemorates the men and women who served our country and educates visitors of all ages on the important military history.
Making Her Place
Dates: January 02 - December 28, 2019Check website for times
Women's history has largely been a silent story. This exhibit unearths some inspirational stories about how women have shaped Porter County.
Prehistoric Porter County
Dates: January 02 - December 28, 2019Check website for times
In 1909, Porter County farmer Myron Benedict was plowing his field when he came across what appeared to be a massive tooth. It was harvest season, and the busy farmer threw the tooth in a corncrib and forgot all about it. In April of 1949, Benedict unearthed parts of a skeleton, teeth, and tusks of a mastodon (Mammut americanum) while plowing a portion of his property that had never been previously tilled. Digging for the mastodon bones was delayed till the fall of 1949 so that the soil could dry out and ease to work involved in recovery and preservation efforts. These artifacts and others are on display in the Prehistoric Porter County exhibit. Children are invited to do a little digging of their own, and visitors are asked to think about what they would do if they found a tooth in their backyard.
30-Minute Highlights Tour
Date: Saturday, December 28, 2019Check website for times
Get a sense of what the PoCo Muse has to offer during this fast-paced highlights tour! Invest thirty munites of your time to see and hear things you might miss on a normal visit. No two tours are ever the same!
Prehistoric Porter County
Dates: January 01 - December 26, 2020Check website for times
In 1909, Porter County farmer Myron Benedict was plowing his field when he came across what appeared to be a massive tooth. It was harvest season, and the busy farmer threw the tooth in a corncrib and forgot all about it. In April of 1949, Benedict unearthed parts of a skeleton, teeth, and tusks of a mastodon (Mammut americanum) while plowing a portion of his property that had never been previously tilled. Digging for the mastodon bones was delayed till the fall of 1949 so that the soil could dry out and ease to work involved in recovery and preservation efforts. These artifacts and others are on display in the Prehistoric Porter County exhibit. Children are invited to do a little digging of their own, and visitors are asked to think about what they would do if they found a tooth in their backyard.
Open Storage Exhibition
Dates: January 01 - December 26, 2020Check website for times
These areas are presently used to store artifacts, however, remain open to visitors interested in seeing the museum's ongoing work with its collections.
Cabinet of Curiosities
Dates: January 01 - December 26, 2020Check website for times
Examine some of the strangest items in our collection as you accompany a PoCo Muse staff member on a guided tour of their Cabinet of Curiosities. The tour will provide additional background information on each artifact in their cabinet and a brief introduction to the historical phenomena of curiosity cabinets. Reservation required.
From a Bailly Point of View
Dates: January 01 - December 26, 2020Check website for times
What do our belongings say about our identity? From a Bailly Point of Viewtake a close look at Frances Howe, the last Bailly family member to live on the Bailly homestead in Porter County. This exhibit explores Frances Howe's understanding of ethnicity, religion, class, and memory through her possessions.
Do Your Part! A County Responds to the First World War
Dates: January 01 - December 26, 2020Check website for times
Immerse yourself in the history of WWI as you step into a setting inspired by a Porter County dining room. In the first part of PoCo Muse's upcoming exhibit, "Do Your Part: A County Responds to the First World War," learn about the war from the perspective of Porter County residents who left home to serve. Within the setting of a home, explore artifacts and stories that demonstrate how local men, women, and institutions responded to the call to serve.
We Are Porter County Series
Dates: January 02 - December 03, 2020Check website for times
"We are Porter County" will highlight the formation of the county from its founding in 1836 to present day. Held on the first Thursday of each month.
