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The Barker Mansion was the home of the Barker family for only 5 years before Mrs. Barker died in May of 1910 and her husband died in December of the same year.

Their daughter, Catherine, was left an orphan, a very rich orphan, at the age of 14.  She attended preparatory school and a finished school in New York although she retained the house in Michigan City as her home.  She was only there intermittently after her marriage in 1930 so in 1948 she gave the homestead to Purdue University for a study center.  In 1968 the ownership of the home reverted to the Barker Welfare Foundation of which Catherine was president.  It was from the Foundation that the home was then presented to the city.

Visiting the Barker Mansion allows students to broaden their knowledge of Indiana's industrial heritage, the early history of Michigan City and surrounding area, and the role of the Barker family in the development of the community.

There are programs on Victorian lifestyles, early 1900's school life, and clue problem solving skills. 

The tour of the Mansion begins with a video about the history of Michigan City and the Barker family.  The actual hour of the mansion highlights the Barker furnishings and the lifestyle of a well-to-do Victorian family.  This tour is suitable for K-12 and offered from February through October.

The Early 1900’s Schoolroom Tours a hands-on turn-of-the-century classroom program presented in Catherine Barker’s third- floor schoolroom. A slate board is provided for each child to complete classroom activities. Games, singing, and reciting exercises are also included. This tour is suitable for grades 3-5 and is limited to thirty students; it is offered from February through October.

The Clue Games a lesson in following directions as students complete a word search puzzle. They solve the mystery of the theft of Barker silver by recording clues found throughout the Mansion in a “detective log booklet.” This game is suitable for grades 3-6, is limited to thirty students, and is offered from February through October.

Location: Barker Mansion
631 Washington Street
Michigan City, Indiana 46360

Phone: 219-873-1520

Open Year Round

Guided Tours:
10:00AM, 11:30AM and 1:00PM
Monday through Friday
(All year)

Saturday and Sunday at
Noon and 2:00PM, June through October
(Weekend hours may vary for special events
  - please call for updates)

Closed Holidays

Donations

Adults - $4.00
Children 4 to 18 - $2.00
Children 3 and under - FREE
 

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Take a trip through Amish country in Indiana where you will go to the two-county area halfway between Chicago and Toledo in Elkhart and LaGrange counties.  You will be able to discover the history and heritage of the Amish, see the attractions along the way and enjoy the idyllic countryside and people while you travel this route.

In villages and on rural outings, the Amish welcome you to glimpse their way of life. Quiet and welcoming Amish-style inns feature restaurants serving hearty fare. Back roads lead you to farmstead shops showcasing the artistry of Amish crafts, furniture and food.  Of course there are the modern things in the communities too, but for the less stressful time you may want to concentrate on a little while in the company of the Amish way of life.

In Nappanee you will find the Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort (talked about on another page of this site).  In Middlebury you can visit the 1,100 seat Amish-style restaurant for some fabulous food.  In Elkhart there is the American Countryside Farmers Market that is a must stop.  51,000 square feet of fresh produce, meats, fish, baked goods, flowers and more for you to enjoy.

Shipshewana brings you the Shipshewana Trading Place of American where on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the quiet streets Shipshewana come to life with thousands of shoppers coming to one of the nation's largest outdoor flea markets. May through October, hundreds of vendors set up offering everything imaginable. Catch the best deals on every type of merchandise you've ever imagined Wednesday mornings at the Antique Auction. At 8AM s harp the bell tolls sending ten auctioneers into action.

Wolcottville offers you Cook's Bison Ranch where you take a wagon tour and see the bison. You can enjoy a buffalo burger or a chuck wagon dinner style buffalo dinner after you finidh your tour.  AYou could take one of the hay-filled wagon rides, feed the buffalo and just enjoy the change of pace offered here.

Goshen offers you a chance to see many artists at work at the Old Bag Factory.  Here the galleries and studios of this renovated 1890's bag factory showcase the work of many artists for your pleasure and purchase.

Ride along the beautiful St. Joseph River aboard this restored 1948 paddle boat. Two hour public cruises start at 2pm each Sunday, June-September. Reservations required. Private cruises available June-October.  Dock is at 110 Bowers Court in Elkhart.

Elkhart also offers you a Water Park for your enjoyment and change of pace.

While you are on this road trip you will be able to see the beauty of the Indiana countryside, meet some super people and eat some fabulous food.  Take the time to drive this route, you'll be glad you did.
 

In this restored Amish farm area you can explore the historic eighty acre farm and heritage resort and experience the lifestyle of the Amish.  You will have the opportunity to take guided tours as you view the documentary films, walk the oaken floorboards of the 125 year old Amish homestead, and take a leisurely farm wagon ride around the 80 acre farm. You'll learn the whys and ways of the Amish as your guide winds you through the twelve room white frame house, the Grossdaadi Haus, the Schwietzer bank barn and inviting outbuildings. You'll experience the sights and sounds of a working farm, alive with barnyard hens, livestock, gardens and apple orchard.

The Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns farmstead, the only Amish farm listed in The National Register of Historic Places is the center point of Amish Acres restoration.

The Amish Acres opened in 1970 to share the life of the Amish with visitors since the Amish are a very private people and prefer to be left alone (not be bothered by tourists) the farm is an excellent way to see what their life is like.

You join your guide at the gate with the dinner bell following the documentary films Genesis and Exodus of the Amish, and Bonnets and Britches for the children. As you walk together through the orchard, past the kitchen garden, you come upon the outbuildings that dry food, bake bread, and smoke meat. Here lye soap is made from the rendered lard and leached lye.

The rest of the tour consists of seeing the other buildings such as the pioneer's two room house and see the practical furnishings, cook stove, and kitchenware that make up the life of the Amish even today.

There is a washhouse that contains both iron and copper kettles, cistern pump, egg incubator and pie safe. There are probably a few of these things that you aren't familiar with if you didn't grow up on a farm.

You will go to the main house where you will see a more comfortable and roomy gathering place.  The connected pantry features built in sugar and flour bins and canned fruit and vegetable shelves.  You will see the keroscene lanterns and teh hardwood floors with their rag rugs.

You will be able to tour the upstairs with the guest room, rope beds featuring feather and straw ticks.  There are dressers with no mirrors and the heat comes from the stove downstairs through an iron grate in the floor.

You will be able to tour the barn, the wagon shed, the ice house, Kuhns cider and grist mill, the Walnut street house, and the German one room schoolhouse.  You can also take the tractor pulled wagon ride through the farm’s woods.

Location: 1600 W Market St., Nappanee, IN  46550

Phone: 800.800.4942

When you are looking for a family outing to give everyone something fun to do then you want to check out Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo.  Here you will have your choice of 24 rides to keep everyone entertained.  There is the Afterburner Rollercoaster to make everyone’s stomach lurch, the Zyklon rollercoaster which, if you do right after the Afterburner should truly get you going!

The Waterslides are always fun for people of all ages so try that out.  The Troika will get you spinning.  There is also the Calypso, the Sea Dragon, Paratrooper, Balloon Race, Flying Scooters, Tilt-a-whirl and of course the Ferris wheel.  Then on to the Scrambler, Roundup (which will have you screaming for fun), the more mellow Carousel to calm everything down.  Try the scene at the Glass House and then off to the Bumper Cars and the Go Karts.  Those are the rides for those 42 inches tall or taller.

For the littler ones there are the wetboats, bouncy room, granny bugs, carousel, chariot race, Hampton cars, turtles, kiddie ferris wheel, pony carts, little dipper safari coaster, sky fighter, space train, tubs of fun, bulgy the whale and kiddy swings.  All of them will be a delight to the little ones.

Stop at the zoo and meet Cash the tiger, Katie the lioness, Leo the lion, Mariah the white tiger, Alana and Buddy, tigers, Savannah and Tango too.  All of these beautiful animals will astound you with their beauty.

There are arcade games inside the 10,000 square foot air conditioned arcade to enjoy on those hot days when you need a break from the rides.

There are food stands throughout the grounds to satisfy your hunger and a gift shop to you to browse through to see if there is a memento you want to take home.

Location: 2365 N. 200 W., Angola, IN 46703

Directions: Located in Northeast Indiana, approximately 40 miles north of Fort Wayne.
From I-69:     Take Exit 150 off I-69.
Turn Left if coming from the south onto County Road 200W or
Turn Right if coming from the north onto County Road 200W
Follow County Road 200W 3/4 miles to the park.

From 80/90 Indiana Turnpike: Take Exit 144 off 80/90 Toll Road.
Merge onto I-69 South and continue 3 miles and Take Exit 150 off I-69.
Turn Right off of the Exit onto County Road 200W.
Follow County Road 200W 3/4 miles to the park.

Rates:
All Day Ride Pass Over 42" tall-$16.00
(includes waterslides!)

All Day Ride Pass Under
42"tall- $8.00

General Admission (Not Riding) $4.00

Riders 2 & Under-$4.00

Non-Riders 2 & Under - FREE

Season Pass (each individual)-$70.00
   
Park Hours: (this is the 2008 schedule, check for 2009)
Open 10:00am to 5:30pm
EST

Saturday & Sunday
(June 7th thru Aug 17th)

Thursday thru Sunday
(June 9th thru Aug 26th)

Last Day Open: end of August

General Information:

No Pets are Allowed in the Park

Shirt & Shoes Required in the Park

Bathing Suits Required On the Waterslide

Go Karts & Mini-Golf are NOT included in the All Day Ride Passes.
 

What does it take to make a community work?  How does the immigrant population from Switzerland create a community for themselves in a strange land?  All these questions and more will be answered with a visit to the Switzerland County Historical Museum.

The museum holds the tales of many of the pasts experiences with displays as Early Swiss Heritage, Veterans Remembered, Childhood Memories, Native Americans, Professions, and Domestic Arts.

You will be able to see the first piano in Indiana which is on display.  This piano was brought to the area in the early 1800's from England.  There is the actual Markland Post Office for you to view along with many valuable heirlooms from the Paul Ogle family.

You will see a collection of military items from the Civil War and other wars up to and including WWII. 

There are items from early doctors for you to see and be glad you live in this day and time.

There is a wonderful doll collection for those that enjoy seeing what the dolls of the past were like and how beautiful they were with their handcrafted work and detailed features.

An early wine press shows the country's distinction of being the birthplace of commercial wine making in the US. 

The displays are all housed in an 1860 Greek Revival Presbyterian Church with their beautiful stained glass windows on the second floor.  The building is part of the historic past that gives insight into the early settlers of the area and the lives of their descendents.

Location: 210 East Market Street, Vevay, Indiana

Phone: 812-427-3560

Hours of Operation:
April - October
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
November - March
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Admission: $3 for one museum or $5 to see this one and the River Museum.

Email: swcomuseums@embarqmail.com