Musings • July 2023

History Happy Hour

The four men pictured above—”Broncho John” Sullivan, Charles Doty, Jacob Mooker, and Louis B. Taylor—spent countless hours telling stories on the courthouse square. We often like to imagine what it’d be like to sit in on these conversations.

It’s in this same spirit that we invite you to talk local history over a drink with friends, history professionals, and amateur historians. This quarter’s History Happy Hour takes place on Wednesday, July 12 from 5-7p at Washington Street Taproom in Valparaiso.

This is a free event for those 21 and older. Drinks are not included.

WHAT TO DO

Postcard Pop-Up at the Porter County Fair

Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 29, 12-9p

Porter County Fairgrounds, 217 E. Division Road, Valparaiso, IN

Extended Hours

Thursdays, Open 11a-7p, until Labor Day

Enjoy additional evening hours every Thursday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Made possible by our donors.

WHAT TO SEE

Ever Yours: Postcards from the Golden Age Now Open!

View hundreds of postcards from the PoCo Muse’s extensive collection of postcards from the Golden Age (1907-1915). Learn what these beautiful and accessible historical documents teach us about social fascinations of a distant past and how we communicate with each other today.

Montague/Urschel Gallery

Connections: Permanent Exhibit

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

Porter County Art: Rotating

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

Robert Cain 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: July through September 2023

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

Postcard Highlights from Ever Yours

Ever Yours features hundreds of Golden Age (1907-1915) postcards from our collection. We’ll continue sharing notable selections on Facebook and Instagram. Come for the beautiful images; stick around for the transcribed messages on the back.

Looking Back: July 1923

Each day on social media, the PoCo Muse looks back by featuring century-old historical excerpts selected from that day in 1923 in the Evening Messenger and Valparaiso Daily Vidette newspapers.

”Broncho John” Sullivan, Charles Doty, Jacob Mooker, and Louis B. Taylor sitting on a bench on the courthouse square, circa 1930; “Good Old Summer TIme at Valparaiso Ind.,” published by Elmer E. Starr, circa 1909.; Installation view of exhibit graphic on exterior of PoCo Muse, May 2023; “Washington Street looking South, Postcards from the Golden Age Valparaiso, Ind.,” circa 1915; Taxidermy preserved dog, “Daisy,” circa early 1930s; Lester J. Chaney (1907-1998), Indiana and Her Dunes, October 1980, oil on canvas; Installation view of Lowenstine WWII Roll of Honor, Albert Photographic, December 2022.