Porter County Museum

09/02/2026

Did you receive our free September 2026 “Musings” email? If so, you know that just like summer can’t last forever, neither can our exhibit, “The Dunes Through the Seasons.”

Here’s a brief summary of what is happening this month:

September 3 — Join Suzanne Goldstein Baker at 1pm inside Pines Village Retirement Communities for a presentation about the artists, writers, and filmmakers who helped shape the way people saw—and ultimately worked to preserve—the Indiana Dunes.

September 5 — Take a walk with Kevin Matthew Pazour to hear stories about notable buildings along the Porter County Courthouse Square.

September 9 — Talk local history over a drink with friends, history professionals, and amateur historians. A short talk about the 1982 Popcorn Festival will be given at 6pm.

September 10 — This is the last day to see “The Dunes Through the Seasons” at The Village Gallery of Pines Village Retirement Communities.

September 26 — Take a deeper look at our current exhibits during our monthly guided tour with Quinn Albert at 11am.

Every Saturday (10am–2pm) – Explore Hebron’s historic Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot through our partnership with Hebron Parks and Recreation.

Exhibits Currently on View at the PoCo Muse:

“Our Heart of Hearts: The Porter County Fair” (through October 18, 2026)

“I won a blue ribbon at the county fair: 4-H Portraits” by Aimee Tomasek (extended through October 18, 2026)

Enjoy free admission at the PoCo Muse (20 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso) Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm, and at the Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot (127 N. Main Street, Hebron) Saturday, 10am-2pm

Make plans to visit and experience Porter County history! Sign up for our free monthly “Musings” email at pocomuse.org or do so during your next visit.

09/02/2026

08/29/2026

In 1919, the entire board of elected officers of the Porter County Fair resigned after the County Council refused to approve funds to build new cattle sheds at the fairgrounds. The fair was cancelled that summer. In its place, a committee organized a homecoming celebration for soldiers returning from World War I on the courthouse square in downtown Valparaiso. The carnival featured Broncho John’s Wild West Show; horse, automobile, and motorcycle races; two baseball games; wrestling; and a “Mardi Gras.”

08/28/2026

“Porter County 4-H club members are making a tremendous contribution toward the food supply of the country.”

“Farm, village, and city boys and girls have caught the ’Victory Garden‘ spirit this year, and the garden club exhibit at the 4-H club fair was the best in history, in the opinion of many old timers who can look back through the years. Included in the exhibit were cabbage, carrots, onions, peppers, beets, mangos, Swiss chard, celery, lettuce, spinach, sweet corn, potatoes, beans, peas and many other products.”
—Vidette-Messenger, 1942