Porter County Museum
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 treasures. Exhibits are displayed through- out the building and change often, because they're always finding new artifacts, every trip is a fresh adventure.
Amenities:
- Non-Smoking
- Eco/Outdoor Friendly
- Family Friendly
- Handicap Accessible
Events:
Prehistoric Porter County
Dates: January 03 - December 29, 2018Wed. - Sat. 9am-5pm (CT)
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.
Saturdays @ PoCo Muse
Dates: January 20 - December 15, 20181-4pm (CT)
On the third Saturday of each month, the Porter County Museum features a story that is given a special emphasis. These are often exhibit openings, highlights of future exhibit topics, or developed community projects and partnerships.
Special Evening Hours at PoCo Muse
Date: Thursday, September 275-8pm (CT)
Are you never able to visit the PoCo Muse during normal house of operation? No problem! Stop by the PoCo Muse while it is open late on Thursday, September 27th and see what's new.
Smithsonian Museum Day at the PoCo Muse
Dates: October 20 - December 15, 201811am-4pm (CT)
Stop by the PoCo Muse during Smithsonian Museum Day to see Selling the Dream: Bartletts' Beverly Shores one last time before it closes forever. Peruse three original, incredibly detailed promotional maps used by the Frederick H. Bartlett Realty Company (not incorporated) in the late 1920s during this five-hour open house special event. The maps, which have never been on public display since they were used by Bartlett, are on loan from the law firm of Harris Welsh & Lukmann in Chesterton Indiana. There is no need the RSVP for this open-house event.
Do Your Part! A County Responds to the First World War
Date: Thursday, November 085-7pm (CT)
This timely featured exhibit will examine how people in Porter County responded to the United States entry into the First World War through an examination of artifacts and stories.
