• A Barker Mansion Christmas
• Join the Barker Civic Center Guild
• Educational Tours and Programs Available at the Barker Mansion
• Special Occasions at Barker Mansion

Cecilia Zubler, Barker Mansion Center Director, would like to invite the public to visit Barker Mansion during the holiday season and experience the season in an exciting way.  Cecilia stated, “This year, Barker mansion celebrates the season with “Barker Mansion Presents:  Christmas at the Movies.”

Hollywood has produced many movies to mark this season and ten are presented in the rooms of the Mansion.  Enjoy the old-fashioned warmth of “Miracle on 34th” Street” as a department store Santa claims to be the real Kris Kringle.  A ragged Christmas tree and Snoopy’s dog house in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” are featured in the Butler’s Pantry, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye stared in the glamorous movie “White Christmas” and a winter wonderland is created in the Dining Room.  The value of family is underscored in “Home Alone II” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  Also featured is LaPorte County’s own “Prancer” a movie about an 8-year old girl who rescues an injured deer, believing he is one of Santa’s team.

Self guided tours are December 6 thru December 21st.  On Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Monday thru Friday from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Guided Christmas tours resume December 22 thru January 15th on Saturday’s and Sunday’s at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. and Monday thru Friday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  Admission if $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for youth under 18.  Children 3 and under are free.  The Mansion is closed December 24, 25 and January 1st.

Holiday movies will be shown on the weekend dates of December 6th and 7th, December 13th & 14th and December 20th & 21th.  Call for times.  There is no additional charge for the movies.

For more information and group reservations please call 219-873-1520.  Barker Mansion is located at 631 Washington St., Michigan City, IN, one block east of Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet Mall.

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Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of April, July, October, and December beginning at 7:00 p.m. Join as an active or supporting member. Informative and historical programs are presented at these meetings, with opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. Annual dues are payable during the months of January, February, and March.

Supporting Membership: $10, $25, $50, or $100
Active Membership: $5

Click here to obtain the Barker Civic Center Guild Membership Application.

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A visit to Michigan City’s Barker Mansion enriches students’ knowledge of Indiana’s industrial heritage, the early history of Michigan City and surrounding area, and the role of the Barker family. Barker Mansion features exceptional programs that meet our state educational standards, as well as students’
requirements for fun!

We offer programs in Victorian lifestyles, early 1900’s school life, and clue problem solving skills. These individual tour topics can be designed to fit the Indiana Standards or individual curriculum needs. Because of time limitations, only one topic is offered per tour. If a large group wants to visit, arrangements can be made with other local museums or the Washington Park Zoo to alternate our program with their programs so your students have many opportunities to learn during their trip.

The Historic Mansion Tourbegins with an introductory video about the history of Michigan City and the Barker family. A tour of the mansion and gardens (weather permitting) follows, highlighting the Barker furnishings and the lifestyle of a well- to-do Victorian family. This tour is suitable for kindergarten through high school and is offered from February through October.

The Early 1900’s Schoolroom Touris a hands-on turn-of-the-century classroom program presented in Catherine Barker’s third- floor schoolroom. A slate board is provided for each child to complete classroom activities. Games, singing, and reciting exercises are also included. This tour is suitable for grades 3-5 and is limited to thirty students; it is offered from February through October.

The Clue Gameis a lesson in following directions as students complete a word search puzzle. They solve the mystery of the theft of Barker silver by recording clues found throughout the Mansion in a “detective log booklet.” This game is suitable for grades 3-6, is limited to thirty students, and is offered from February through October.

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The Barker Mansion is available for rental for special occasions and weddings. For more information, please contact us.

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