Built in 1857 by freight car magnate John Barker, Sr., Barker Mansion was the home of Barker, his wife Katherine, and their daughter Catherine. Their son John H. Barker became president of his father's company in 1883 and expanded the house in 1905 into a 38-room mansion with ten bathrooms and seven fireplaces. In 1910, both parents died, leaving Catherine the world's richest heiress at age 14. In 1968, the Barker Welfare Foundation donated the home to the City. Today, tours and special events are held in its restored rooms and outdoor gardens.

Photo: Lou Donkle

Michigan City, Indiana · USA