Portage Township near Gary in Porter County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Beach to Beeches

Photographed by Connor Olson, November 4, 2024

1. Beach to Beeches Marker

Inscription. In plant succession, one plant community replaces another, until finally a stable community develops. Moving inland from the beach, more plant species appear.

In 1896, Dr. Henry Cowles, University of Chicago, began bringing his students here. They learned that wind, soil, ground temperature, existing plants, shade, and soil moisture all impact the development of a community of plants.

Today, teachers emulate Dr. Cowles. They bring their students to the beach to study plant succession. Together, they look for answers: Will succession ever progress to a beech-maple forest as Dr. Cowles predicted? What happens if a storm or fire destroys trees?

Captions:
Dr. Henry Chandler Cowles
Dr. Henry Cowles observed the progression of beach to forest all along Lake Michigan.

Students have visited West Beach to study plants since 1896.

Students document their plant succession data and discoveries on the beach.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 41° 37.558′ N, 87° 12.47′ W. Marker is near Gary, Indiana, in Porter County. It is

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in Portage Township. It can be reached from West Beach Road. The marker is in Indiana Dunes National Park just north of the West Beach Bath House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 W Beach Road, Gary IN 46403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Diana (Alice) in Duneland 1915-1925 (approx. ¼ mile away); Why is it Called Diana’s Dune? (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ogden Dunes Ski Jump (approx. 0.9 miles away); History of Marquette Park (approx. 2.4 miles away); Southern Point of Lake Michigan (approx. 2.4 miles away); Shipwreck Archeology (approx. 2½ miles away); Tuskegee Airmen Remembered (approx. 2.6 miles away); Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gary.

Also see . . . Henry Chandler Cowles. NPS biography of Dr. Henry Chandler Cowles

“Many of these species are found nowhere for many miles outside of the dune region, so that failure to conserve the dunes would result in the extinction of this wonderful flora for all time.”

(Submitted on March 8, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Wide angle view of Beach to Beeches Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, March 8, 2025

2. Wide angle view of Beach to Beeches Marker

View of the Beach to Beeches Marker facing west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, March 8, 2025

3. View of the Beach to Beeches Marker facing west

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.