Musings • January 2025

Ring in the New Year with the South Shore Brass Band & Indiana Ballet Theatre

Our featured exhibit about the Valparaiso & Northern Railway is rolling into the new year! If you haven’t explored The V&N: Porter County’s Electric Interurban Rail Line, consider doing so before the exhibit closes forever on April 19.

You will also want to join our friends at the Valparaiso Chain of Lakes Watershed Group, South Shore Brass Band, and Indiana Ballet Theatre for “Celebration of the Interurban,” a free narrated program and concert at 2p on Sunday, January 12, inside the First Christian Church of Valparaiso. Experience early twentieth century music and dance from the interurban’s heyday.

P.S.—Mark your calendars for a special curated tour with Visitor Experience Manager Quinn Albert on Saturday, January 25, at 10a. Don’t miss this in-depth tour which features additional local stories and other objects not normally on display.

WHAT TO DO

Celebration of the Interurban

Sunday, January 12, 2p

First Christian Church, 1507 E Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, IN

Curated Tour w/ Quinn

Saturday, January 25, 10a

PoCo Muse, 20 Indiana Avenue

Complimentary Guided Museum Tour Series

Saturdays at 2p

PoCo Muse, 20 Indiana Avenue

No RSVP Required

New Museum Buttons

Sundays from 11a-5p

PoCo Muse, 20 Indiana Avenue

Pick up one of our new buttons, including this one of Poco Mouse.

VIEW THE CURRENT ISSUE OF MUSE NEWS

WHAT TO SEE

The V&N: Porter County’s Electric Interurban Rail Line

Through April 19

The Valparaiso and Northern Railway (V&N) was an electric interurban train line in Porter County that operated from 1910 to 1938, connecting Valparaiso to Chesterton by way of area lake resorts.

Montague/Urschel Gallery

Selections from the Permanent Collection

Through February 2

See a seasonal selection of artworks by local artists from our permanent collection.

Robert Cain Gallery

Connections: Permanent Collection

Take a closer look. Gathered throughout the PoCo Muse are pairs of objects that speak to each other in surprising ways. The objects may appear different at first glance, but after closer consideration, they may reveal important relationships.

Eunice Slagle Gallery

Lowenstine WWII Roll of Honor

The Lowenstine WWII Roll of Honor was displayed on the courthouse square from 1943 until 1973 in commemoration of the Valparaiso citizens who contributed to the war effort during World War II. It was installed in the PoCo Muse in December 2022.

MORE TO EXPLORE

Muse News: January through March 2025

Stay up-to-date with all that’s happening at the PoCo Muse by checking out our most recent newsletter, Muse News.

PoCo Muse Magazine: Issue No. 8

The digital version PoCo Muse Magazine is free to read for everyone. This issue highlights the stories of three Porter County heroes and pioneers.

Looking Back: January 1925

Each day on social media, the PoCo Muse looks back by featuring century-old historical excerpts selected from the Evening Messenger and Valparaiso Daily Vidette newspapers.

At the Intersection of Art & History

The 25-minute video slideshow called "At the Intersection of Art & History" presents highlights from our permanent art collection and spotlights a few common themes found in the artworks.

A copper bugle with unknown origins from the PoCo Muse Collection, Albert Photographic, 2021; “Grand Rush of the First Day” cartoon by Jim Harrison, July 6, 1910, Vidette-Messenger; Quinn Albert in Connections next to “Daisy,” 2024; “Poco Mouse” in train conductor uniform, created by Ashley Vernon in 2023; a streetcar of the Valparaiso & Northern turns the corner at the junction of Calumet Avenue and Franklin Street, circa 1914; “Untitled,” by Harriet Rex Smith, watercolor on paper, 1993; a linocut block by Vin Hannell depicting the Hannell’s Furnessville home and studio, circa 1930s; two unidentified men sitting on the courthouse square with a view of the Lowenstine WWII Roll of Honor in the background, circa 1969.