By Jim "Jano" Janesheski
The Porter County Museum isn’t the largest Museum and its Director, Kevin Pazour, isn’t Ben Stiller. You might not see Kevin chased by dinosaur fossils either. Kevin has, however, created plenty of enthusiasm since taking over as Director of the Museum currently housed in the equally historical Old Jail located on the Square in Valparaiso.
The Porter County Museum is a hidden treasure worth discovering. Valparaiso is a special town with an equally special history. Kevin offers an exciting interpretation of objects that reflect the unique Valparaiso experience. Interested in murder and mystery on the Square? Kevin will share haunting stories dating back over 170 years ago. Enjoy military history? The Museum has artifacts that date back to the Revolutionary War. The Museum collects, preserves and displays the heritage of Porter County in areas of social, scientific and military history.
The size of the collection isn’t what’s significant about a Museum, but rather the significance of the collection. If you’re intrigued by our cultural past and life on the Square back in time- the Porter County Museum offers hours of entertainment. The function of a Museum is to tell a story and nobody tells the story of Valparaiso better than Kevin Pazour. His knowledge of our past is short of amazing.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The Museum has a large array of photo’s dating back to a forgone era. I am currently working with Brad Cavanaugh of Air One Photography to digitally restore many of these images that will be available as a collectable print series with all proceeds to be donated to the Museum. The prints will be sold through many downtown restaurants and retailers. Valpo Life will display images of these collectable prints and provide a listing of the downtown merchants that display them.
If you love history, culture and Valparaiso……..you’ll love a Night at the Museum-on the Square.