The Gary (IN) Historical & Cultural Society Welcomes You

"Celebrating and Preserving our History and our Ethnic and Cultural Diversity"

The Gary Historical & Cultural Society, Inc. (GHCS), a 501(c)(3) community organization, was founded in 1976, in the year of our country's bicentennial, by Dharathula (Dolly) Hood Millender. Our mission is "to uplift and enrich the Gary, Indiana and surrounding communities by preserving, developing and sponsoring cultural, historical & educational programs for citizens of all ages".

The Gary (IN) Historical & Cultural Society's

Programs include:

Care-Takers of Gary's (IN) first building and now a visitor's center and Gary history museum : The Gary Land Company (1906-Present)

The Free Saturday School for the Arts (Ages 7-14)
(Co-sponsored with The Gary Community Schools Corp.)

The Summer Enrichment for Learning Program (Ages 7-14)
(A 5-week summer program of free skills classes, positive citizenship classes and arts enrichment classes)

A Participant in Smithsonian Magazine's annual "Museum Day"

5th Sunday Community Forums
(Co-sponsored with The Gary Public Library)

The Gary Civic Symphony - continuing Gary's Musical Traditions through these musical activities and programs:

1. "Free" annual Children's Concerts
2. Music Clinics for returning community musicians
3. Professional live music concerts, and
4. "Giving back" professional services to our Community, such as teaching in the GHCS youth programs

The annual GHCS "Christmas Season Dinner-Concert"
(Featuring The Gary Civic Symphony and the Christmas Carol "Sing Along" Community Choir)

The "Do It Yourself" MESSIAH

"Sharing Our Ethnic Histories and Cultures" (Annual Seminar and Festival)

The annual "Writers' and Teachers' Workshops"
(For writers in all stages of development)

Historical research

Our Founder/CEO, Mrs. Dharathula "Dolly" Hood Millender, coordinates the research activities of the Society. She is an author of several books and Gary's historian. She is shown below left at an area book-signing, and below right teaching youth about Gary's history. Mrs. Millender's latest book on Gary history, Gary's Central Business Community, was published by Arcadia Press in its "Images of America" series. The book may be ordered by calling (219) 882-6873. Her other books may also be ordered online or by calling the number.