The Central Stories Project at the Porter County Museum of History has cast a fresh light on the everyday history of Valparaiso’s Central neighborhood. Over the past year, researchers have explored the rich stories of the people who have lived, worked, and raised families there, developing an oral history of the area with as many layers as there are people.
Now, the Porter County Museum invites visitors to Valparaiso and longtime residents alike to experience the Central neighborhood as it lives and breathes today with the new monthly walking tours that will be offered on the third Saturday of each month. Beginning this Saturday, September 21, at 2 pm, guests will set out from the museum to explore the many locations that make up the Central Neighborhood. From larger community buildings such as the Trinity Lutheran Church or the Central Elementary School, to the private homes residents pass often on their morning jogs, the social history of the Central neighborhood can be found in the most everyday of places.
Tours are free of charge and require no advance registration. Simply arrive at the Porter County Museum before two o’clock this Saturday, and a staff member will lead you and your tour group down neighborhood sidewalks, revealing the fascinating stories that radiate within these familiar buildings.