Some photos from the good, old days
Who are we?
Chesapeake & Ohio engine crossing the diamonds
Franklin, when it was a K-12 school
The Griffith girl’s basketball team
Broad Street when all five railroads were operating
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The Griffith Historical Society, founded in 1983, was empowered by a Griffith Town Council resolution to preserve the history of the town of Griffith. At that time, ownership and operation of the Depot Museum, saved from demolition two years earlier, was given to the Society by joint action of the Council and the Community Spirit Organization. In 1994, the Griffith Historical Society purchased the land adjacent to the Depot to create an Historical Park in tribute to Griffith's railroading past. The Griffith Historical Park was formally dedicated in May, 1995. The Park and Museum are open on the first Sunday in June till the last Sunday in August from 2-4 pm and throughout the year for special tours.
Annual Events
What is going on?
A Taste of Griffith Brewing
Santa in the Caboose
Fun Fund-raising!
Our 1st Annual Beer Garden Fund-raiser was a resounding success! Such a good time was had by all that we are repeating the event next year on the same weekend, the third weekend in July. In 2015 we hope to make the event even bigger and better, and feature our own in-town micro-breweries, with the name being changed to “A Taste of Griffith Brewing.”
Come see Santa & Mrs. Claus!
Every year, we hold an event where parents and children can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in a real caboose! Families wait in our Pullman Troopsleeper car where they can meet Spike the Reindeer Engineer and are entertained by elves. We also offer photo packages at an affordable price and hope you can come visit us this year! If you have any questions, please ask us on the Contact Us page.
Welcome 2015!
We begin the new year with a new attraction. Our first Historical Display Room is will be opening to the public on February 7th at Franklin Center. See details below.
2015 is going to be an exciting one for us. We will again be running our barrel train, The Hess Express, every Friday night at Griffith’s Central Market starting in May.
Plans are yet to be determined for Opening Day at the Griffith Historical Park in June. But check back here frequently for updates.
Our 2nd Annual Beer Garden fund-raiser, A Taste of Griffith Brewing, will be held on July 17th and 18th. The event will be bigger and better than last year’s, so look for more details on our website.
GHS Rooms at Franklin Center
Come visit us the first and third Saturdays of the month, from 10am to 2pm, beginning February 7th.
Use Entrance G, off the north parking lot. Using this door, you will see our new chairlift, making access to our lower-level rooms easier. The lift was donated by Trinity Lutheran Church, of Lowell, and our thanks goes out to them, and especially to Steve Swarens, Debby Hoot’s brother, who arranged for the donation.
Thanks also goes to John, from Scooters & More, in Valpo, being able to install the lift for us; and to Ryan Schultz for doing the necessary electrical work.
We continue to seek items pertaining to Griffith History, and any donations are tax deductible. Pick-up arrangements can be made, if needed.
The Hess Express Barrel Train
Our Barrel Train runs every Friday night at Griffith Central Market, as well as at the Griffith Historical Park Opening Day in June, the Griffith 4th of July Parade, the Griffith Rock ’n’ Rail Festival over Labor Day weekend, the Police Safety & Community Day in September, and the town’s newest event, Oktoberfest in October. If you’d like to advertise on one of the train’s 10 barrel cars to help support the Griffith Historical Society, leave a message on our website’s Contact Us page and we will get back to you. The cost is $125 a year, plus the cost of two magnetic signs.
© 2015 Griffith Historical Society • All Rights Reserved • Designed By: Logan Kulinski