Crown Point is best explored through its history: the historic Lake County Courthouse, the museum housed inside it, and the tour of the Lake County Sheriff's House and Jail each offer a different perspective. There are also cultural events at Bulldog Park, as well as opportunities to enjoy nature and go cycling. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether historic sites, seasonal events, or outdoor activities should be the focus of your trip.
Courthouse, Museum, and Local History
The Lake County Courthouse is located in downtown Crown Point and was built in 1878. The Courthouse Square Historic District encompasses a large part of the business district. The year the individual building was constructed and the extent of the historic district describe different scales. On May 17, 1973, the Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The construction date, the district’s historic designation, and its listing in the Register are therefore clearly distinct points of reference for Crown Point’s history.
The Lake County Historical Society Museum is also housed in the Courthouse. Its collections cover the history of Lake County, especially Crown Point. They include clothing, military uniforms, Native American artifacts, tools, photographs, and documents. The range extends from clothing and objects to visual and written materials. Thus, the Courthouse’s construction history and historic status are the main focus there, while the Museum highlights the different types of collection items and their connection to the history of the county and the city.
The Lake County Sheriff's House and Jail offers another historical perspective. Built in the Second Empire style in 1882, it is the setting for tours that take visitors from the sheriff’s residence through the functional areas of the jail to the cell of Public Enemy Number One. The route from the living quarters through the jail rooms to the cell gives the tour a concrete spatial structure. Unlike the construction and collection themes surrounding the Courthouse, the focus here is on a guided tour through the areas described.
Events at Bulldog Park
Bulldog Park hosts live music, festivals, and outdoor movies. In winter, the Franciscan Health Pavilion at Bulldog Park becomes an NHL-sized ice rink for all ages. This winter offering is distinct from the outdoor events also held there. The Crown Point Farmers Market at Bulldog Park offers fresh produce, and the Wine Fest is held there as well.
The Crown Point Winter Market features dozens of local artisans. Crown Point’s downtown also hosts an annual Ball Drop Ceremony. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the event dates before making your plans; pay particular attention to the seasonal dates for the Crown Point Winter Market. This lets you distinguish between choosing an event as the occasion for your trip and choosing a period when other topics discussed here are the main focus.
Nature and Cycling
Sauerman Woods Park offers nature experiences and accessible play opportunities. Cycling is possible on the Erie Lackawanna Trail and the Veterans Memorial Trails. These options have a different focus from the historic buildings and the Museum: the Park emphasizes nature and play, while the two named trails are for cycling. When choosing, you can therefore distinguish between history, a park with accessible play opportunities, and cycling on the trails, without treating them as a single route.
Practical Information
Free all-day parking is available on the south side of Bulldog Park. Check the parking rules again before you arrive. If an event determines your travel dates, check its dates in advance as well. These two points can help with planning: the parking is on the south side of the Park, while event dates should be considered separately for each occasion.
Explore More Destinations
Explore more destinations: Saint John, Cedar Lake, Hammond, Merrillville, Schererville, Hobart, Griffith, Munster
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