LaPorte, the county seat of LaPorte County, is often referred to as "The Maple City" or "The City of Lakes" because of its beautiful maple trees and the six lakes around which it has grown.

 

LaPorte's Historic Downtown Tour

It was the arrival of the railroad in the 1850s that first spurred the development of LaPorte's business district. In addition, the town's designation as the county seat made LaPorte the county's political center. with its beautiful maple trees marking the change of the seasons, the Indiana and Michigan Avenue neighborhood charms visitors year round.

1. LaPorte County Courthouse Lincolnway & Indiana Ave.

c. 1890-1894; Richardsonian Romanesque

This massive Romanesque building was designed by Brentwood Tolan, who was also responsible for several other Indiana county courthouses.

2. Osborne House 1037 Indiana Ave.

c. 1895; Queen Anne style

This home sits on the former sight of Dr. Hailmann's school for kindergarten teachers. Towers dramatize the picturesque roofline, while a variety of windows, some with art-glass, enliven the brick wall surface

3. Secor House 1108 Indiana Ave.

c. 1905, Queen Anne style

Asymmetry, a picturesque roofline, and a variety of windows makes this house typical of Queen Anne architecture.

4. Admiral Ingersoll House 1202 Indiana Ave.

c. 1908; Colonial Revival

An elaborate Palladian window hovers over the semi-circular portico with its Ionic columns, while four dormers with broken pediments overlook each direction.

5. Herbert Fox House 1503 Indiana Ave.

c. 1925, Prairie style

The horizontai aspect of this building with its clean lines and wide roof overhang is typical of the Prairie Style, while the porch supports and copper down spouts are characteristic of the English Revival Style.

6. Maurice Fox House 1508 Indiana Ave.

c. 1923; Classical Revival

This brick house has corner quoins, a limestone beltcourse and keystones. The semi-circular portico has limestone supports with papyrus capitals.

7. Door Prairie Barn south of LaPorte on US Hwy. 35 (Indiana Ave.)

c. 1878

This barn stands as one of the few remaining "round barns" in the United States. Built in 1878 by Marion J. Ridgeway, it is unique in that it has nine sides-perhaps the only one of this type still in existence. It was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

8. Ruth C. Sabin Home 1603 Michigan Ave.

c. 1888; Italianate

As a widow, Ruth Sabin built this home so tha t she and other women like her could live together. Italian features include heavy brick massing,vertical windows, jack arches, and corbelling at the cornice.

9. First United Methodist Church 1225 Michigan Ave.

c. 1928; Gothic Revival

George Allen designed this cut stone church trimmed in limestone.

10. Morrison House 1217 Michigan Ave.

c. 1900; Queen Anne/Free Classic

The Morrison house, with a Palladian dormer, stucco and half-timbering, and Rococco brackets, demonstrates how eclecticism can individualize these houses.

11. Pulaski King House 1200 Michigan Ave.

c. 1859/1900; Federal Style/Colonial Revival

The original brick structure with evenly spaced vertical windows and limestone lentils was modernized in the early twentieth century with a two story porch and continuous cornice with dentil work.

12. St. Peter's Catholic Church 1101 Michigan Ave.

c. 1929; Romanesque

Father Sorin, founder of the University of Notre Dame purchased this site in 1853. The present church, with its bascilica plan, heavy massing, rounded arches, and rose window, is characteristically Romanesque.

13. LaPorte County Historical Society Museum State & Michigan Ave., County Complex

With over 80,000 items on display, this museum houses LaPorte County family heirlooms and the W.A. Jones collection of antique firearms and weapons-the best of its kind in the U.S. and one of the three best in the world.