Chesterton in Porter County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mt. Tom: A View of Ancient Shorelines
Photographed by Lou Donkle, January 8, 2024
1. Mt. Tom: A View of Ancient Shorelines Marker
Lake Michigan has changed size many times over thousands of years. Each time it has left the imprint of its former shoreline.
Lake Michigan was formed by a lobe of the Wisconsin Glacier. The lobe halted to the south, depositing debris in a ridge or moraine. This moraine, called the Valparaiso Moraine, is the most distant ridge line.
[Captions:]
At the end of the Ice Age, glaciers retreated and readvanced several times. This resulted in changing lake levels in ancient Lake Michigan. When lake levels rose, the Lake Michigan shoreline would move to the south. The second most distant ridge line visible is the Calumet Beach. It was Lake Michigan's shoreline over 10,000 years ago.
Imagine yourself standing at the lake's edge, with waves lapping your toes.
About 5,500 years ago, Lake Michigan again rose and was about 23 feet higher than today. You are standing on that 5,500 year old beach, the Toleston Beach.
The South Shore Line
The line of white towers seen in the distance identify the South Shore Line. An electric interurban railroad, the South Shore Line started in 1908. Before automobiles, the South Shore Line brought Chicago residents to the Dunes.
Erected by Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 41° 39.757′ N, 87° 3.368′ W. Marker is in Chesterton, Indiana, in Porter County. It can be reached from Trail 4 just west of Trail 8, on the right when traveling west. Marker is at the top of the stairs to Mt. Tom which is on Trail 4 from the State Park Nature Center, located at the north end of Indiana State Highway 49. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chesterton IN 46304, 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: Dune Creek Watershed: What Makes It Special? (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Wreck of the J.D. Marshall (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Squall Causes Lake Disaster" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Le Petit Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away); Daylighting: Getting Dunes Creek Out of the Pipe (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps Flagpole (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Prairie Club Fountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Chicago Skyline (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chesterton.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The J.D. Marshall (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Lou Donkle, January 8, 2024
2. Marker on a platform at the top of Mt. Tom
Overlooks Lake Michigan with a view of Chicago's skyscrapers on a clear day
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
