A little catch up on our summer activities:
On Wednesday, June 5th, Griffith Historical Society Board Members Martha Gatlin, Karen Kulinski, Belinda Stark, and Ken Karlstedt, Sr. attended Cedar Lake Historical Associationโs Afternoon at the Lake. They were there with other volunteers and professionals from Calumet area historical organizations to participate in a โPreserving History Networking Seminarโ .
Thank you to everyone for sharing your knowledge and insight with us!
Thanks again, to photographer Max Crosby, for filling our Depot Museum and Historical Park with his incredible photos of magic moments on theย rails.ย We loved your dynamic images and the amazing turnout you brought with you.
Thank you to Griffith Daisy Troop 15620, Cub Scout Pack 622, and Boy Scout Troop 623 for providing refreshments!
It was a wonderful weekend!
Check out more of Max’s work:
https://youtube.com/@peremarquette1223?si=3VYUDQFa2D7fRJnt
Introducing our new Monarch Waystation:
๐Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop! ๐ฆ
We are so grateful to the Lake County Master Gardeners for the financial support and to the Griffith Tri Kappa members for creating and maintaining this absolutely lovely and meaningful addition to our Historical Park, which not only beautifies our park for us and our human visitors, but for an amazing array of pollinators and other winged visitors!
Whether you’re biking or driving by, stop by the Griffith Historical Park to have a seat in the shade, play a game of checkers, and watch the trains and butterflies!
An Appeal to Griffith Historical Society, Inc. Members,
Every now and then an opportunity arises where we can contribute to the education of young students in Griffith. We have that moment this coming September.
All Griffith third-grade students since 2022 participate in a week-long Historical Society activity entitled, The ElmerJ Program, which provides historical information about our town as part of the schoolโs Social Studies curriculum.
The students see/hear an in-class PowerPoint presentation about the founding of Griffith, complete with photos and maps. This is followed by a school bus trip to our Historical Park, where each class receives a guided tour of our Depot, railcars and Tower.
While the presentation and tours are done at no cost by Historical Society members, there is a fee for the bus and for the two paperback books pertaining to Griffith history that are part of the program.
Last year, 8 classes โ 161 third graders โ participated, and the school anticipates a similar number this year. The cost last year for the book and the bus came to $7, but these costs may rise some this year.
To make sure that no student misses out on learning about their town, we are trying to fund the cost for all students through extra donations from our Members.
If you’d like to help, please, can you send a donation to:
Griffith Historical Society, Inc.
201 N. Griffith Blvd. #3
Griffith, IN. 46319
Or through our online donation link (click here).
Thank you,
Martha Gatlin, Director
Read about last year’s field trip here.
Happy 4th of July from the Griffith Historical Society!
Our Hess Express Barrel Train has been a proud 4th of July parade participant for almost 10 years! 
And thanks to Strack & Van Til for donating candy for the parade!! 
Come down to the Griffith Historical Park to view a specialย photographyย display,ย โMoving Freight Along the Great Lakes”,ย from 1 to 4 p.m., on June 15th and 16th.ย ย
The work showcases the railroads of the Great Lakes Region in action, moving freight forward to destinations all over the country.
Max Crosby, the photographer, has loved trains for longer than he can remember, and is passionate about capturing magic moments on the rails. He is talented, knowledgeable and has a wonderful eye for new and fresh compositions.
The photographs, a sample shown below, will be displayed colorfully and dynamically, along with descriptions throughout our iconic sleeper car. Guests can linger, experiencing trains, history, and pondering what it REALLY takes to move freight among the Great Lakes.
Our Grand Trunk Western Depot will be open, as well as our Road Caboose and Tower (which is celebrating its 100th birthday!)
Griffith Daisy Troop 15620 will have cookies and lemonade for sale on Saturday.
On both weekend days, Cub Scout Pack 622 and Boy Scout Troop 623, will be on hand selling hot dogs and chips, and pop on Sunday. Picnic tables will be available.
๐ First and Last of the Season!!
Friday:
๐ฃThe Hess Express is back!
๐Come ride the barrel train at Central Market!
๐ฐ4:30 โ dusk (weather permitting)
Saturday:
๐๐ฝโโ๏ธLast chance to check out our museum rooms at Franklin Center!
(Until September, that is!)
๐ซSaturday, May 18th
๐ฐ11 am – 3 pm
๐ชEnter door G
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ!๐
Join us!!
๐Saturday, Dec 9 (10am – 4pm) & ๐Sunday, Dec 10 (Noon – 4pm)
โ๏ธGive a donation, enjoy a private visit with Santa
โ๏ธTake photos & video, weโll take a family picture for you
โ๏ธOur Holiday Bake Sale in our Depot, plus:
โ๏ธ Daisy Troop 15620, with stocking stuffer snacks
โ๏ธBrownie Troop 35647, with ornaments/decorative candle jars
โ๏ธCub Scout Pack 622 & Boy Scout Troop 623, with hot dogs, & hot chocolate, and holding a clothing drive for Sojourner Truth House in Gary!
Find us!!
Friday Sept 8 – 9am – 1pm at Strack and Van Til in Highland
Friday Sept 8 – 5pm – 7pm at Central Market ๐
Saturday Sept 9 – 1pm – 4pm at Griffith Public Safety & Community Day in Central Park! ๐
Friday Sept 15 – 5pm – 7pm at Central Market ๐
๐งฒWe have Limited Editon Griffith Magnets!! ๐๐๐๐ for ๐ฒ5๏ธโฃ
๐ Or get your own Historical Society t-shirt!Super soft, Bella Canvas tri-blend! ๐ We have V-necks and crew necks available!๐ฒ2๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ
๐ซ We also have 50/50 Raffle tickets!! Everyone loves a raffle!๐ฒ2๏ธโฃ each or 3๏ธโฃ for ๐ฒ5๏ธโฃ!! ๐ณDrawing is on November 15th.
๐ When we’re at Central Park, we’ll have the Barrel Train!! Grab your ticket to ride! $3๏ธโฃ per kid! All aboard!!
All sales and proceeds go directly to the upkeep of the Depot Museum, Train Park, Railroad Webcam, and Griffith History Preservation!!
Visit our tent at Rock N Rail!!!(Just north of Vegas Vegas) to get your Griffith souvenirs!!
We have Limited Editon Griffith Magnets!! ๐๐๐๐ for ๐ฒ5๏ธโฃ
๐ Or get your own Historical Society t-shirt!Super soft, Bella Canvas tri-blend! ๐ We have V-necks and crew necks available!๐ฒ2๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ
๐ซ We also have 50/50 Raffle tickets!! Everyone loves a raffle!๐ฒ2๏ธโฃ each or 3๏ธโฃ for ๐ฒ5๏ธโฃ!! ๐ณDrawing is on November 15th.
All sales and proceeds go directly to the upkeep of the Depot Museum, Train Park, Railroad Webcam, and Griffith History Preservation!!
Griffith History Museums 