Michigan City in LaPorte County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Barker Mansion
The House that Freight Cars Built
Photographed By Lou Donkle, April 4, 2024
1. Barker Mansion Marker
The mansion before you was built by freight car magnate John Barker, Sr. in 1857.
Barker lived in this home with his wife, Katherine, and daughter, Catherine. Tragically, both parents died in 1910, making Catherine the world's richest heiress at age 14.
[Captions:]
Son John H. Barker became president of his father's company in 1883 and expanded the building into a 38-room mansion with ten bathrooms and seven fireplaces in 1905.
Left: Dining Room, Far left: Library
John Barker and his wife Katherine.
In 1968, the home was donated to the City by the Barker Welfare Foundation. Today, tours and special events are held in the opulent restored rooms and elegant outdoor gardens.
Erected by The Barker Mansion.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 41° 42.764′ N, 86° 54.016′ W. Marker is in Michigan City, Indiana, in LaPorte County. Marker is on Washington Street just west of Franklin Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is near the sidewalk to the right of the main entrance. Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Barker Civic Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elston Grove Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Mary's Parish World War I Memorial and Honor Roll (approx. ¼ mile away); Haskell & Barker Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Log Cabin in Michigan City (approx. 0.3 miles away); Michigan City Civil War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Michigan Road (approx. half a mile away); Naomi Anderson (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Michigan City.
Photographed By Lou Donkle, April 4, 2024
2. Front of Barker Mansion with this marker on right and another marker on the left
Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 58 times since then. Last updated on April 15, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
