Old Lighthouse Museum,
"The first light house keeper was old Mr. Harrison, but the present keeper, Miss Colfax, has had charge of it longer, and has discharged her duties more satisfactorily to the government, than any of her predecessors." --History of LaPorte County, 1876
At the bend of Trail Creek in the Michigan City harbor stands an historic old structure whose beacon served as a guiding light for Great Lakes sailors for more than 100 years. Michigan City's well-lighted port has a long and interesting history, bound to Lake Michigan with all its mysteries and beauties.
The story of Michigan City's lights began on June 23, 1835. Isaac C. Elston, the city's founder, deeded a tract of his land which ran from the bend of Trail Creek to Lake Michigan's shore to the U.S. Government. Elston knew that aids to navigation would be needed if the city and its harbor were to flourish. The land was passed on to the government for the purpose of constructing a lighthouse.
Michigan City's first light was a simple "postlight" located approximately 100 feet west of the present lighthouse. A "postlight" was a lantern on a tall pole.
- 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.
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