Porter County Museum

09/08/2026

09/05/2026

Today’s Courthouse Square Walking Tour has been postponed.

With high humidity and temperatures expected to continue rising this afternoon, we’ve decided to postpone today’s walking tour of the Porter County Courthouse Square. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the experience comfortably—and fortunately, the stories aren’t going anywhere!

We’re planning to bring the walking tour back in October with a seasonal twist, exploring some of the legends, lore, and intriguing stories surrounding downtown Valparaiso and the Porter County Courthouse Square. We’ll share the new date as soon as it’s set.

And you won’t have to wait until October to hear the stories we planned to share today! We’ll soon release a podcast version of the Courthouse Square Walking Tour, so you can explore these stories wherever—and whenever—you’d like.
Thank you for understanding. We look forward to sharing more great Porter County stories with you soon.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for something to do today, stop by PoCo Muse to explore "Our Heart of Hearts: The Porter County Fair" between 11am–5pm, or head to Hebron to visit the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot between 10am–2pm. Both are free, fun ways to beat the heat while discovering some great Porter County history!

This historical glimpse of the Porter County Courthouse appeared inside the 1931 Valenian annual from Valparaiso High School.

09/04/2026

Every Friday is Fair Friday at the PoCo Muse while "Our Heart of Hearts: The Porter County Fair" is on exhibit! Enjoy this story from 1960 and plan your visit to learn more about the fascinating 175-year history of the Porter County Fair!

09/03/2026

Don’t miss your final chance to experience "The Dunes Through the Seasons" before it closes next week. And stop by Pines Village Retirement Communities today (September 3) at 1pm for Suzanne Goldstein Baker's program, "Art, History, & Film Intersect at the Indiana Dunes."

Despite the constant seasonal changes in the dunes, some things, such as this fallen tree limb in Cowles Bog, stay the same and let the world change around them. Barghusen was known to have favorite trails and haunts within the dunes, including landmarks he returned to at different times of the year. These two photos may have been the result of intentional study and planning by Barghusen to capture the intrigue of the seasonal cycle.

“Untitled (Spirits dance),” 2010 and “Surreal Object,” 2010, by Herb Barghusen (1933-2015)