Porter County Museum

10/17/2026

Were you at the Porter County Fair in 1976? We’d love to hear your stories!

Our latest episode of PoCo Stories takes us back fifty years to a Bicentennial summer filled with 4-H projects, grandstand entertainment, and memorable achievements—including fourteen-year-old Martha Stoner’s grand champion market lamb, pictured on the episode cover.

Behind the celebrations were fire-safety concerns, flooding, and debate over the future of the old fairgrounds on Calumet Avenue.

This history is still within living memory for many. Did you exhibit a project, volunteer, watch a show, or visit with family and friends? Share your memories in the comments—and let us know if you recognize a name or hear your own!

Listen to PoCo Stories: The 1976 Porter County Fair on Spotify or SoundCloud.

10/17/2026

10/15/2026

What stories are hiding in plain sight around the courthouse square?

Join Kevin Pazour this Saturday, October 17, at 2pm for a free Courthouse Square Walking Tour. Explore the history of a few downtown buildings and hear seasonal stories about local legends and lore.

Meet at the front desk inside PoCo Muse at 20 Indiana Avenue in downtown Valparaiso. Make an afternoon of it by visiting our two Porter County Fair exhibits before or after the walk. Both close the following day at 5pm on Sunday, October 18.

10/15/2026

The Porter County Museum, or PoCo Muse, will offer a guided walking tour of the Porter County Courthouse highlighting local history.

10/13/2026

This is the final week to experience two exhibits celebrating the people and traditions of the Porter County Fair.

Explore 175 years of fair history in “Our Heart of Hearts: The Porter County Fair,” then spend time with the faces and stories in “I won a blue ribbon at the county fair: 4-H Portraits” by Aimee Tomasek.

Both exhibits close this Sunday, October 18. Whether you’ve been meaning to visit or want one more look, make time this week.

Want to hear more from Aimee? She’ll share the stories behind her photography during an artist talk at Pines Village Retirement Communities this Thursday, October 15, at 1pm.

Visit PoCo Muse Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
20 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso • Free admission