Michigan City's Old Lighthouse

Celebrating 150 Years

On Saturday August 9, 2008 more than 150 people gathered in celebration of the Michigan City Lighthouse sesquicentennial.

Folksinger Lee Murdock performed on August 9

The Michigan City Historical Society offers thanks to those participating in the special program.

* Welcoming Remarks by Michigan City Historical Society President Fred DeVries

*Greeting by Hon. Scott Pelath, Indiana State Representative

*"Marine Safety on the Great Lakes" by Chief James Allison, U.S. Coast Guard

*Songs of the Great Lakes by Acclaimed Folksinger Lee Murdock

*Portrayal of Miss Harriet Colfax, Michigan City Lighthouse Keeper 1861-1904 by Local Actress Sandy Gleim

Welcome!

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

* 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 relative 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.