Last updated on December 20, 2023.
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum in La Porte, Indiana, is an excellent place to learn about the history of the city and county.
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum was incorporated on October 17, 1921. It has been housed in the former Door Prairie Auto Museum since September 30, 2006. Every piece in the museum comes from LaPorte County.
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Visiting
The museum is located a short drive south of downtown La Porte along Indiana Avenue. Admission is US$5 for adults and US$4 for seniors (as of September 2023). Children under 18 years of age are admitted free of charge. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm.
Main Level
The collection is displayed on the main level, basement, and second level. The main level contains several historic artifacts, including clothing, toys, dolls, camera, furniture, and more.
A replica of downtown La Porte sits along the back wall. It’s lined by a few cars from the Kesling Auto Collection (see below), including a rare 1948 Playboy. Only 99 Playboys were ever made, and it was the inspiration for the name of Hugh Hefner’s men’s magazine.
Another interesting artifact on the main level is an original Lincoln Highway marker. The stone marker once stood on Lincolnway in La Porte.
Period Rooms
14 period rooms are set up to the rear of the main level. They depict life during different times in La Porte County history. On display are a 1950s living room, a general store, a 1920s kitchen and living room, and a school room.
The doctor’s and dentist’s office displays antique medical equipment and furniture. An interesting photo shows Dr. William Worrall Mayo, the founder of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo attended courses at the Indiana Medical College in La Porte in 1849 and 1850.
Next are a Victorian bedroom, dining room, and parlor. Furnishings from the Victorian era were popular in the area between 1850 and 1900.
A music room features antique musical instruments and items from the luxurious La Porte Theater. The theatre was built in 1923 by architect Henry Newhouse and stood until 1977. It was located on Lincolnway between Jackson and Detroit Streets.
The period rooms continue with an Empire room (1840s-1850s), a pioneer log cabin, an office, and beauty shop.
Kesling Auto Collection
On the upper level are several cars from the Kesling Auto Collection. There are over 30 cars in the collection, which is on loan from Dr. Peter C. Kesling and his wife Charlene.
The oldest is a 1903 Winton and the newest is a 1982 DeLorean. Also on display is a 1948 Tucker Torpedo used in the 1988 movie Tucker: A Man and His Dream starring Jeff Bridges. Only 50 Tuckers were ever made.
Other interesting cars include a 1911 Ford Model T that finished third in the 1976 Around the World Race from Istanbul to San Francisco; a 1951 Studebaker; a 1967 Amphicar;
A custom 1930 Ford with two engines, gas tanks, and dashboards (only one is functional); a 1968 Daimler; and a 1958 Lambretta motorscooter.
Basement
In the basement are more historic artifacts as well as natural items such as bones, birds, rocks, and minerals. Working model trains are also included.
A sports display includes photos, memorabilia, and items used by locals who became professional athletes. There’s also sports equipment used as early as the late 19th century.
The Belle Gunness Exhibit chronicles the mysterious brutal murders that occurred on the Gunness farm between 1901 and 1908. Nearby is the W. A. Jones Exhibit, featuring nearly 850 antique weapons purchased from all over the world as well as uniforms dating back to the Civil War.
Finally, there are a few more cars from the Kesling Auto Collection scattered throughout the basement. The most interesting is a 1976 Yare. It was built by Dr. Kessling and displayed at the 1977 Electric Vehicle Exhibition in Chicago.