Celebrating 150 Years: 1858-2008

The Michigan City Historical Society hopes that you will visit with us at the Old Lighthouse Museum, the oldest remaining lighthouse in Indiana.

The Old Lighthouse Museum is open for public tours from April through October, every day except Monday. The museum is currently open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central Time. The Old Lighthouse Museum will be open from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Central Time in September and October. Self-guided and audio tours as well as docent-led tours are available. The last tour each day begins at 3:30 PM Central Time. Call the museum at (219) 872-6133 to check on special hours or closings.

* Tour the historic 1858 Michigan City Lighthouse and climb the tower into the lantern room.

* Learn about the three Michigan City Lighthouses.

* See an exhibit about Miss Harriet Colfax, Michigan City Lighthouse Keeper from 1861 until 1904. She was a cousin of Schuyler Colfax, U.S. Grant's Vice President.

* See a collection of beautiful ship models that we now have on loan.

* See a new display of running lights from the ship, Showboat. The Showboat housed a theater in which the play Tobacco Road was performed.

* See exhibits about Lake Michigan shipwrecks, including a collection of picture postcards commemorating the Eastland Disaster, the tragic sinking of a steamship bound for Michigan City's Washington Park from Chicago in 1915.

* Learn about Abraham Lincoln's funeral train and its stop in Michigan City.

* Learn about local maritime history and the ships that have sailed in and out of our harbor.

* Learn a bit about the history of Michigan City, Indiana.

* Visit our gift shop and browse our fine selection of books, postcards, clothing, souvenirs, and Harbour Lights and Spoontiques lighthouse figurines.