In Gary, different travel interests connect with specific places: at Marquette Park, they range from dunes and beach to trails through natural areas, alongside architectural and art history. If you’re looking for accommodation in Gary, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Dunes, Habitats and Trails

Marquette Park includes a dune landscape with elevations of up to 75 feet. Its natural areas also include around 54 acres of oak woodland and dry oak savanna. Paved trails and paths through natural areas provide different ways to explore the park. When planning, it’s therefore worth considering not only the landscape but also the types of trails.

Another nature route is the Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods. It passes through wetlands, a globally rare black oak savanna, open dunes and beach areas. The trail is 3.4 miles long, with an elevation change of 46 feet.

Miller Beach is designated an Important Bird Area from Marquette Park to Lake Street. The Paul H. Douglas Trail and this designation highlight different aspects: one is a route through named habitats, while the other is a designated area with a precisely defined extent.

Beach, Water and Recreation

Marquette Beach is the designated swimming beach at Marquette Park. Lifeguards are on duty there seasonally from sunrise to sunset, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you’d like to combine a beach visit with swimming, factor this period into your plans and check the schedule before visiting.

Marquette Park also has an accessible boat launch for kayaks and canoes at the lagoon. The lagoon flows from west to east between Lake Street and Grand Blvd. The launch is described as accessible, but conditions for launching may vary. Check them before setting out. For a bike ride or walk, the accessible Marquette Bike Trail leads to West Beach and runs through the city of Gary.

Another option in the park is the 1.3-mile one-way loop formed by Marquette Drive and Oak Avenue. It has a shared bike lane and a shared walking path. This is a different type of trail from the Paul H. Douglas Trail, for which the length and elevation change are specified. When comparing activities, you can distinguish between a described loop in the park and a longer route through different habitats.

Architecture and History

The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium was built in 1921 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also in 1921, George W. Maher designed the pavilion in Marquette Park. Its architectural styles are described as Prairie School and Italian Renaissance Revival. The two structures share a year but have different architectural details: for the Aquatorium, the focus is on its construction history and listing; for the pavilion, it is the design and its stylistic classification.

Marquette Park’s dunes also have a connection to aviation history. In the summer of 1896, a biplane glider designed by Octave Chanute flew 350 feet in 14 seconds there. The landscape is therefore not only a natural area but also the setting for a clearly dated historical event.

The art history of the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District can be traced through a specific project: the original Lake-Effect project brought more than 40 artists to the District in 2013, transforming 19 walls and alleyways into spaces for community art. The beach also has another historical dimension. In 1953, St. Augustine’s advocated for the desegregation of Marquette Park beach as part of its social and civil rights work.

Travel Planning Information

A National Park Service page last updated on April 7, 2020, lists Gary Public Transportation Corporation’s Route 13: it passes directly by the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education and near the entrance to West Beach. Check the current schedule and route before traveling.

Discover more destinations: Merrillville, Cedar Lake, Munster, Hobart, Schererville, Saint John, Hammond, Griffith

For the main travel overview: Lake.