Q4 2025.png
 

Now Open: From a Bailly Point of View

Though Joseph Bailly looms large in the memory of Porter County as its first nonnative settler, the lives and work of three generations of Bailly women - Marie, Rose, and Frances - truly shaped the Bailly homestead and public perception of the family legacy

The PoCo Muse believes objects tell stories, and our new featured exhibit, From a Bailly Point of View (expanded from a 2018 exhibit of the same name), looks closely at artifacts from our Bailly Family Collection to shed new light on their legacy in Porter County.

Learn more
 
Events
Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot
Nov 22
Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot
Holiday Closure
Nov 27
Holiday Closure
Holiday Closure
Nov 27
Holiday Closure
Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Hannah Sliekers
Nov 29
Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Hannah Sliekers
View Latest MUSINGS E-MAIL
View Newsletter Archive
View Latest Magazine

Founded in 1916 by the Porter County Historical Society (now the PoCo Muse Foundation), the PoCo Muse is the oldest institution devoted to the history and culture of Porter County.

Artifacts were displayed in the lower level of the Valparaiso Public Library from 1916 until 1937, on the top floor of the Porter County Courthouse from 1938 until 1973, and inside the 1871 Porter County Jail from 1975 until 2020. The PoCo Muse opened its doors at 20 Indiana Avenue in downtown Valparaiso on May 19, 2022.

Our exhibits and programs highlight Porter County’s rich history, and have much to tell visitors about our county’s past, present, and future. We hope that when you visit, you leave with a better understanding of the unique character of Porter County, along with its diversity, vibrancy, and beauty.

“This may be the best small museum in the USA.”

— Natalie Z. | Yelp review

“Truly a gem in our community […] we are very fortunate to have such an amazing local cultural resource!”

— Ben | Facebook review

I brought my daughter who thought it'd be totally lame […] so we made a bet. If it was, I would have to get her a cupcake from the local bakery. I did not have to buy the cupcake. 

—Wende B. | Facebook review

“The public programming they provide is informative, reflective and fun. The exhibits challenge visitors to think of history in the context of their own lives. Museum-goers discover their shared history, and we are a stronger community as a result of these discoveries.”

— Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas

"The institution has tackled difficult subjects like civil rights and homelessness but has managed to stimulate engagement and conversation. More importantly, the Porter County Museum has demonstrated the true diversity that exists within our borders."

— Former Chesterton Town Manager C. Bernard Doyle

laurels.png
laurels copy.png
laurels copy 2.png
laurels copy 3.png