We Illuminate The Present By Bringing The Past To Life
Through tours, lectures, entertainment and other programs, the Barker Mansion’s architecture, collections and social history create a living museum for both the scholar and casual visitor. Presented to Michigan City in 1968 by Barker’s daughter, Catherine Barker Hickox, the home operates as a non-profit institution for schools, civic and cultural groups and the public at large.
Our Work
The Barker Mansion serves to interpret the history of the Barker legacy and its context within Michigan City, Indiana. We accomplish this through interpretive tours, exhibits, lectures, musical performances, specialty tours, city walking tours, galas, crafts, and other special events. The mansion is also available for rentals for weddings, nonprofit meetings, family gatherings, photo shoots, conventions, birthday parties, and other events.
Our History
Built in 1857 by John Barker and remodeled in the early 1900s, the Barker Mansion stands as a testament to the success and innovation of the Barker family and a prime example of luxury in the Gilded Age. Through their industrial enterprises, the Barker family helped define the Midwest as a center of trade and commerce. Their home set the tone for opulence and culture during the Gilded Age by honoring the grace and beauty of the past while calling upon the brilliance of progressive architecture and design. The Barker Mansion opened as Museum and Civic Center in 1970 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
