La Porte County Historical Society
Welcome to our new website and web address: www.laportecountyhistory.org. New Museum building now open to the public. Museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 - 4:30.
Home
Museum Exhibits
Items of Interest
Historical Photography
Historical Markers
Historical Sites
Brief History
Research Library
Research Resources
Publications for Sale
Gift Shop
Society Meetings
Membership
Kesling Auto Collection
Contact Us
Visit Us
Links
Search this Site

 


"Otto Giese Miniature Church" Display

The Church will only be on exhibit during the month of December and the first half of January.

Otto Giese Minature Church

This perennial favorite was first displayed for Christmas 1947. The little church was Otto Giese's fulfillment of a dream to help others honor Christmas. While spending the holiday season serving in the Armed Forces during WWII, Mr. Giese vowed to create something wonderful for people to enjoy at Christmas. Back in La Porte, he did just that with the help of local carpenters, electricians, and other craftspeople.

Built of wood in the style of a typical steepled New England church, the building features a multi-national congregation of dolls, a mechanized choir that processes with tiny candles and music, and a moving minister who waves his arms and tells the story of Christmas. This is set to a veritable light show of tiny chandeliers, colored effects and spotlights. It has been largely restored and computerized over the last few years through the volunteer labor and donations of several local business owners, coordinated by Tim Barnhart of S & W Electric.

The Church will be on exhibit during the month of December and the first half of January. We invite the public to see their museum in a "Different Light." The fluorescent lights will be turned off every afternoon from 3:00 until 4:30. Come and view the collection under the warm glow of colored lights from a large variety of Christmas decorations. Take a break from the holiday bustle and enjoy a stroll through your museum, the La Porte County Historical Society Museum.


This photo shows James Rodgers, Curator of the La Porte County Historical
Society Museum, ready to push the button that starts the show inside the
Giese Miniature Church.


La Porte County Historical Society Museum
2405 Indiana Avenue, Suite 1
La Porte, IN 46350
Tel: 219/324-6767
Fax: 219/324-9029

Admission Charge: La Porte County Adult Residents $3
Out-of-county Adult Residents $5
Children/Students 12-17 $3
Commercial bus tour participants $3

Children under 12, La Porte County Historical Society, Inc. members
Time Traveler affiliates, School Tours FREE

  OPEN TO PUBLIC
Tuesday thru Saturday
10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M
Handicapped accessible



Web Site Design and Hosting by: CSInet Internet Access Corp.

Copyright © 2002 by LaPorte County Historical Society
All rights reserved. Please read our
Legal/Copywrite Notice
Site Last Revised: Saturday, October 28, 2006 7:57 PM
Phone: (219) 324-6767