Miller Beach in Gary in Lake County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Southern Point of Lake Michigan

Photographed by Lou Donkle, July 10, 2022

1. Southern Point of Lake Michigan Marker

Inscription.
World's largest freshwater sand dunes in the world line the southern shores of Lake Michigan.

5th largest lake in the world and largest lake in Indiana.

Over 3,500 ships and planes lay at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

You are standing at the southern point of Lake Michigan, the only great lake entirely within the United States. The great lakes system contains 20% of the freshwater found on the planet earth. It provides millions of people with international transportation, food, recreation and beauty, not to mention cooler springs and summers and warmer falls and winters. It is why we are here. Treat it well. Thank you.

P.S. If the waters in the great lakes were spread across the continental United States, the top of the water would be above this marker.

Max. Length: 307 miles
Max. Width: 118 miles
Min. Width 91 miles
Max. Depth: 923 feet
Shore length 1,400 miles
Ojibwa Indian word "Mishigami" meaning "Large Lake"

41.620198° N and 87.255918° W
Marquette Park, Miller Beach, Gary, Lake County, Indiana

Erected 2019 by Friends of Marquette Park.

Topics. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Natural Features.

Location. 41° 37.225′ N, 87° 15.252′ W. Marker is in Gary, Indiana, in Lake County. It is in Miller Beach. It is on Oak Avenue west of Montgomery Street, on the right when traveling west. A directional marker is easy to see from road which points to the marker by the beach. It is about halfway between the first parking lot and the playground equipment. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7022 Oak Avenue, Gary IN 46403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana

and specifically on the Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan Shore.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

Directional Sign to the Lake Michigan Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, July 10, 2022

2. Directional Sign to the Lake Michigan Marker

within walking distance of this marker: History of Marquette Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shipwreck Archeology (about 500 feet away); Tuskegee Airmen Remembered (about 800 feet away); Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium (approx. 0.2 miles away); Octave Chanute (approx. 0.2 miles away); Octave Chanute 1832-1910 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chanute Glider (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Octave Chanute (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gary.

More about this marker. Located at the bottom of the stairs leading to the beach.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Marquette Park, Gary, Indiana. Markers are listed from east to west along Oak Avenue.

Marker is at the Bottom of the Stairs Leading to the Beach image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, July 10, 2022

3. Marker is at the Bottom of the Stairs Leading to the Beach

Historic Stone Pillars Along the Path to the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, July 10, 2022

4. Historic Stone Pillars Along the Path to the Marker

Street View of Directional Sign, Historic Stone Pillars, and Southern Point of Lake Michigan Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, July 10, 2022

5. Street View of Directional Sign, Historic Stone Pillars, and Southern Point of Lake Michigan Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,799 times since then and 151 times this year. Last updated on June 26, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 21, 2022, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.