Today, we will explore the Hesston Steam Museum in La Porte, Indiana. Before we travel back in time to discover the history of the Museum, I wanted to briefly dive into the city of La Porte and explore what makes it the city it is today.
History of La Porte, Indiana
It started in the 1670s, when the Potawatomi Indian Nation controlled the area that we call La Porte, which stretched from the Wabash River all the way to Lake Michigan (3). Eventually, French explorers came wandering over from Europe, and after them, the fur traders made their way into the area (4). Soon, many settlers joined in on the adventure and used the “wide Indian trail that passed through the forest to the next prairie. This opening from forest to prairie was a legendary kind of passageway or door for these early pioneers.” The French admired this trail so much that they named it “La Porte”, which is French for “the Door”, according to the City of La Porte website. La Porte is a great name, with a historical meaning behind it. However, it’s not the only name given to the city. In the 1850s, resident Sebastian Lay planted many maple trees along Indiana and Michigan Avenues, which brought about the name “Maple City” for the area (3).
In 1832, the city of La Porte was recognized as a community, and quickly became a town in 1835 (3). In 1836, the city established its first newspaper, and from there, it rapidly expanded, attracting more residents. In 1842, the La Porte Medical School was founded, and then, in 1852, “the Door” officially became a city with approximately 5,000 citizens.
The city of La Porte has a deep and storied history. There is much we did not go over today about the city, but if you are interested, you can read the rest in citations 3 & 4.
Now, let’s step back in time and explore the Hesston Steam Museum.
Hesston Steam Museum
Imagine this: You step out of your car, and the warm summer air is blowing all around you. Your child, who loves trains, is standing beside you when, suddenly, you both hear the whistle of a steam locomotive. You look at your little one and see a smile, along with a look of wonder and excitement. You take their tiny hand, and you enter the Hesston Steam Museum. Not only that, you enter a different time. A time when steam trains ruled the track. A bygone era that suddenly manifests right in front of your eyes. I lived this experience, and today I am here to tell you all about it.
The Hesston Steam Museum is located in La Porte, Indiana. It stands as a testament to a rare, living past. The museum is a “Not-for-Profit 501c3 dedicated to restoring and preserving steam equipment which played such an important part in the history of American culture and improved the quality of life on a global scale never seen before (1).”
When you arrive, you see many old trains sitting all over the grounds. You see the building for Doc’s Soda Fountain almost immediately as well (which we will discuss later). You hear the steam trains arrive and depart from the station – the museum offers rides for a great price! When you look around, you realize the Hesston Steam Museum is much more than a collection of old machines; It’s a lively, pro-active journey through our country’s steam-powered past, and it is perfect for all ages!
The yearning from local steam enthusiasts to share the history of the use and modernization of steam power “necessitated the purchase of suitable land for an annual reunion.” In 1957, a group by the name of “LaPorte County Thresherman” held their very first show, featuring traction engines as the main feature (2). In 1959, a sawmill was added, and in 1961, the electric plant made its debut. Finally, in 1964, a steam train was purchased from a man named Elliott Donnelley, who lived in Lake Forest, IL. Donnelley was interested in everything the group accomplished at Hesston, and with his generosity, the “remainder of our 155-acre site was purchased and a unique dual gauge (24’’/36’’) railroad was constructed”, per Hesston.org.
Soon after this was built, the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society, Inc., was commissioned as a not-for-profit organization (2). This led to the LaPorte County Thresherman club dissolving. A year later, in 1969, the IRS recognized the Hesston Museum as a 501( c )(3) not-for-profit corporation. The Hesston Museum website states that the railroad at the museum was created to resemble a “1900s narrow gauge logging railroad that would have supplied sawmills with logs but also transportation to different rural towns and villages.” Each year, the exhibits grew as more equipment arrived at the museum. It was all restored and ready for display. In 1975, Elliott Donnelley passed away. His family donated the 14” gauge railroad, which ran on his Lake Forest estate and was moved after he passed to the steam grounds. In 1977, construction started on the new site, and it was finished in 1982. More recently, in 2019, the railroad was re-themed to The Hesston & Galena Creek Narrow Gauge Railroad (2).
Attractions
I’m not sure if the museum regularly has this attraction, but when we visited, they had a Civil War reenactment going on. The participants were dressed in clothes of the era, and they all had tents set up, which genuinely made the place look and feel as if you were stepping back in time. Mr. O didn’t understand or pay attention to it, but I found it interesting, and I think Lea found it cool.
A more consistent attraction the museum has is its steam railroads. Oh boy, if you’ve followed my weekly reviews, you know Mr. O LOVES steam trains. This kid was in awe when he heard it and saw it in person! One of the first things we did, other than walking around looking at all the cool Civil War setups, was purchase a few tickets for the steam train ride. We rode on the museum’s narrow-gauge railroad, which runs for a couple of miles. It took us through the forest, up some hills, past a couple of farms, and over lots of open fields. It was a great time, and Mr. O was having a blast, until….
Yes, our train was taken over by soldiers, and there was a shootout. For the record, I knew there was going to be a Civil War reenactment when I planned the trip, but I DID NOT know it was going to be a part of the train ride! Mr. O wasn’t too shaken up by all the shooting and “dying”. He was so focused on the people falling to the ground. He kept saying “Up! Up!” trying to get them back up. It was cute, and a little sad because he doesn’t understand life and death yet. Overall, he enjoyed the ride very much.
Another attraction the museum offers is a miniature steam ride (1). We planned on riding this one as well, but we thought it was best to save it for another time. “The museum’s smallest railroad is a study in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Art & Math) as these machines are usually built in home machine shops and designed on paper.” It looks cool, and I can’t wait to go back and give this ride a try.
Other exhibits to check out when you’re there:
- The Huge 1911 Avery Steam Traction Engine
- Hesston Sawmill, which has a 60-inch blade
- Electric Power Plant and Stationary Engine
- Browning Locomotive Steam Crane
- Steam Traction Engine with Threshing Machine
- The D. Graham & Son Blacksmith Shop –Artwork with Purpose
The Hesston Steam Museum is filled with many attractions, but one of my personal favorites was dining at Doc’s Soda Fountain. As the website says, “History served up in a dish or cone!”. It’s this cute little burger joint that brings you into the 1930s as soon as you walk through the door. From the outfits of the employees, to the way they serve their ice cream and food, it’s a smack in the face of nostalgia for a place and time most of us have never even been to!
I ordered a classic cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate milkshake:
It was delicious! Mr. O had a great time in there, too. He had chicken tenders and drank some of Lea’s milkshake.
Overall, it was a great day at the Hesston Steam Museum. It was filled with so much fun and history. We can’t wait to go back! Lea and I plan on going one weekend in October for their spooky ghost train ride (they offer rides every weekend in October), and possibly, if it’s not too cold, in December for their Christmas ride, which is called Santa’s Candy Cane Express.
Now that we’re at the end of exploring the Hesston Steam Museum, I wanted to leave you with my final thoughts on why you should visit this historic place. First, you have the chance to gain a unique education about steam technology and transportation. Second, it’s very family-friendly. It’s affordable, interactive, and keeps you engaged no matter your age. Third, the volunteers work hard to bring history to life, and they have so much enthusiasm! I could tell it means a lot to them when the museum is busy. Lastly, it’s a nostalgic experience. You can travel back to a time when steam locomotives ruled. To a time when you can go grab a bite and a milkshake at the burger joint and experience an old-fashioned diner. The Hesston Steam Museum is a place you should visit, especially if you’re in northwest Indiana. It is worth your time.
Visitor Information
- Address: 1201 E 1000 N, La Porte, IN 46350
- Free admission to the grounds. Train rides are ticketed
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Restrooms and baby-changing facilities
- Operating hours: Open on weekends from Memorial Day through August 25th from noon to 5:30 pm Central Time
Tips
- Dress for outdoor activities. Nearly everything is outside
- For some train rides, there may be special event pricing (Holiday rides, such as Halloween or Christmas)
- Purchase separate tickets for each train ride
- You can book tickets online in advance of busy weekends
Thank you for reading this edition of Exploring the Region. I appreciate it! Please share and subscribe.
Peter
Citations
- https://hesston.org
- https://hesston.org/history
- https://laportecounty.life/article/la-porte-a-city-rich-in-history/
- https://www.cityoflaporte.com/about-laporte/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesston_Steam_Museum
- https://nwi.life/article/step-into-a-world-of-living-history-at-the-hesston-steam-museum-this-summer-season/#
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