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

Mayor Richard G. Hatcher

Downtown Art & History Fitness Trail

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 3, 2024

1. Mayor Richard G. Hatcher Marker

Inscription.

Gary City Hall - Gary Tillery's
Mayor Richard G. Hatcher
Statue

This statue honors Mayor Hatcher, one of the first two black mayors to be elected in major cities in the U.S. The bronze statue celebrates this historic win in 1967, which heralded changes in U.S. politics following the civil rights movement. He was 34 when he was elected and served five terms. The statue was erected and unveiled in 2018.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.

Location. 41° 36.201′ N, 87° 20.198′ W. Marker is in Gary, Indiana, in Lake County. It is in Downtown. It is on Massachusetts Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Massachusetts Street, Gary IN 46402, 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 within walking distance of this marker: Richard Gordon Hatcher (here, next to this marker); Gary City Hall Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Elbert H. Gary (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Elbert H. Gary (within shouting distance of this marker); Gateway Park / Gary Land Company Building / Union Station

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Spanish American War Memorial (about 300 feet away); The Fusion (about 300 feet away); Gary’s First Schoolhouse (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gary.

Also see . . . Richard G. Hatcher. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 12, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 3, 2024

2. Mayor Richard G. Hatcher Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 3, 2024

3. Mayor Richard G. Hatcher Marker

Mayor Richard G. Hatcher talks on the phone, Gary, Indiana, 1968 image. Click for full size.

courtesy of the Indiana Album - Joan Hostetler Collection, 1968

4. Mayor Richard G. Hatcher talks on the phone, Gary, Indiana, 1968

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 302 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on February 26, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 11, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4. submitted on February 23, 2024. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.