Miller Beach in Gary in Lake County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Marquette Pavilion
Timeless Space for the Community
Photographed By Lou Donkle, June 19, 2022
1. Timeless Space for the Community Marker
Marquette Pavilion, built in 1924, is an example of prairie-style architecture.
Can you find these features that are emblematic of this style?
• Strong geometry and massing
• Horizontal and vertical lines
• Brick or stucco exteriors
• Rows of windows
• Connected indoor and outdoor spaces
Postcards circa 1930-1945, Boston Public Library.
Scene - Marquette Park, Gary, Indiana
Pavilion - Marquette Park, Gary, Indiana
• Twin turrets
• Balconied terraces
• Porte-cochere arches
• Sweeping stairway to the lagoon
The Marquette Pavilion has a long history as a venue for community celebrations, proms and weddings.
• Mum's the Word; It's a Grand Display - One of the earliest events held in the Pavilion was the annual Chrysanthemum Show, first organized by the park department's botanist, George Kuny, in 1935. Gary Post-Tribune. 1936
• Kuny developed more than 100 varieties of mums and grew roughly 4,500 plants to prepare for the annual show.
• (Caption for photo) George Kuny - Prior to working for Gary Parks Department, George Kuny was a "floriculturist" for several millionaires' estates, including that of Henry Ford.
Special thanks to Steve Spicer. For more information on the history of the Marquette
this page online
Erected by Friends of Marquette Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 41° 36.996′ N, 87° 15.639′ W. Marker is in Gary, Indiana, in Lake County. It is in Miller Beach. Marker is at the intersection of Oak Avenue and North Grand Boulevard, on the left when traveling south on Oak Avenue. Marker is across the street directly in front of the Marquette Pavilion main entrance on the south side of the sidewalk. Oak Street forms a loop in front of the pavilion and also merges there with North Grand Blvd. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 North Grand Blvd, Gary IN 46403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jacques Marquette (within shouting distance of this marker); Patterson Island (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Octave Chanute (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Octave Chanute (approx. ¼ mile away); Chanute Glider (approx. ¼ mile away); Octave Chanute 1832-1910 (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Octave Chanute (approx. ¼ mile away); Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gary.
Related markers.
Photographed By Lou Donkle, June 19, 2022
2. Marquette Pavilion and Marker
Also see . . .
1. History of Marquette Park and the Pavilion. This website is published by a local historian of Miller Beach. Marquette Park, originally named "Lake Front Park", has a storied past. Long before there was a park at this location it was not only the site of the mouth of the Grand Calumet river, but contained a town laid out first by Joseph Bailly, an early settler in the region. Indiana City remained on the maps for many years, but never had more than a few shacks on it. The land, a swampy wetland, had to be drained by local contractor Gus Strom after it was given to the City of Gary by United States Steel in 1919 for a park. (Submitted on June 25, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana.)
2. Miller Beach. This website is published by Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana as part of their digital civil rights museum titled Indiana Crossroads: Hoosier Civil Rights.
Miller Beach was not always a destination that welcomed everyone, however. Miller Beach began as a sundown town, where African Americans spent time as daytime workers and household servants but were expected to be out of town by dark [1]. In its infancy, Miller Beach had a long way to go(Submitted on June 27, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana.)before it encapsulated the progressive ideals for which it is known today.Photographed By Lou Donkle, July 10, 20223. Marquette Pavilion Located on Marquette Lagoon
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. 3. submitted on July 23, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
