Indiana Dunes National Park

Asking the south shore of Lake Michigan, in sight of the Chicago skyline, sits Indiana Dunes National Park.

This park is the product of over a century of passionate advocacy. The movement began in 1916 when botanist Henry Cowles and local citizens rallied to protect the region’s rare dune ecosystems. Despite early setbacks, their efforts led to the creation of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966. After decades of grassroots campaigning, it was officially redesignated as a national park in 2019.

It was a fun and unexpected park, sitting in a hub of industrial activity.Read more