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A turreted red-brick courthouse with a clock tower rises over the square in Crown Point, the Hub City of northwest Indiana and the seat of Lake County. Antique shops, pubs and cafes ring the square, giving the city a small-town feel even though Chicago is only about an hour away.
Crown Point was founded in the 1830s and grew as the county seat. In the early twentieth century it became known as a place where couples could marry quickly, and celebrities came to tie the knot at the courthouse. Its most famous story came in 1934, when John Dillinger escaped from the county jail using a fake gun he had carved, an event still retold on tours of the restored Sheriff's House.
Today the city is a base for the Erie Lackawanna Trail, county parks such as Lemon Lake, and summer evenings at Bulldog Park. In August the Lake County Fair fills the fairgrounds with livestock shows, rides and grandstand concerts, and in December the square glows with holiday lights.
Built in 1878 and nicknamed the Grand Old Lady, the red-brick courthouse with its clock tower served Lake County for nearly a century. Today it holds small shops, event rooms and local history displays, and its lawn is the stage for festivals and holiday lights. Stop by on a weekday when the shops are open.
This 1882 brick Sheriff's House and attached jail is where John Dillinger famously broke out in March 1934 using a fake pistol. Guided tours lead through the restored residence and cell block and recount the escape in detail. Tours run on set dates and often sell out, so book ahead online.
The historic blocks around the courthouse are lined with nineteenth-century storefronts housing antique shops, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. A seasonal farmers market and summer events bring crowds to the square. Walk the full loop of the square, then follow the side streets to see Victorian homes nearby.
A city park a short walk from the courthouse square with a covered pavilion used for summer concerts, movie nights and markets, and a public ice rink in winter. It is a lively place on weekend evenings. Check the city events calendar for live music dates and skate hours before you go.
Crown Point's fairgrounds host the Lake County Fair each August, with livestock barns, 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, fair food and grandstand shows. Through the year the grounds also hold flea markets, car shows and expos. During fair week, come in the late afternoon to see the barns and stay for the evening show.
A large Lake County park on the southwest edge of Crown Point with fishing ponds, paved and grassy walking trails, a fitness course and wide picnic lawns. In winter, groomed areas are used for cross-country skiing and sledding. Bring a fishing pole and a picnic and plan a slow lap of the trails.
A city park around a small lake on the north side of Crown Point, with a walking path through woods and wetland, fishing spots and birding along the shore. It is a calm escape a few minutes from downtown. Visit at sunrise or early evening when the water is still and the trail is quietest.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jbcannon727, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dmytro Sergiyenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: T. Tolbert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
