Discover Gary, Indiana: 9 Fascinating and Fun Facts You Won't Believe!

1. Jackson Street: Birthplace of Michael & Jermaine

Where there's Michael, there's Jer-mayne: Gary, Indiana is known for bringing the King of Pop into existence, but let's not forget that it was also Gary's humble streets that first staged the entrance of the equally-super-talented, Jermaine Jackson, on December 11, 1954, a whole two years before Michael's moonwalk even landed. Both legends blossomed under the very same roof on none other than Jackson Street, making it a groovy hotspot for fans to pay their respects.
Source => quirkytravelguy.com

2. Steel City's Chocolatey History

If steel were chocolate, Gary, Indiana would have been everyone's favorite indulgence during the early 1900s: founded as a purpose-built industrial city to support Chicago's booming sweet tooth (and by that, we mean its industrial revolution), Gary's prime location on Lake Michigan and its melting pot of Eastern European immigrants, Appalachian migrants, and former black slaves made it a steel-making paradise. However, the city's decline in the late 20th century was no Willy Wonka fairy tale, as it was plagued by a bitter mix of white flight, disinvestment, urban decay, and a legacy of racism. Thankfully, some modern-day Oompa Loompas are working on revitalizing this once-great steel city by tapping into its potential as a crossroads city with access to major highways and an international airport.
Source => skyscraperpage.com

Did you know the term "Hoosier" was once an insult, but Indiana's residents turned it into a symbol of pride? Discover how they embraced this nickname and its impact on their culture!

=> Fun Facts about Indiana

3. The Naming of Gary, Indiana

In a classic case of the "Gary Who Must Not Be Named," Gary, Indiana, surprisingly has no connection to the Welsh steel magnate who loved to cast a spell on hunks of molten metal: Instead, this fine town owes its name to Elbert Henry Gary, an American lawyer, judge, and financier who played a pivotal role in creating the United States Steel Corporation in 1901, ensuring a future filled with higher wages, stock ownership, and safer working conditions for its employees.
Source => kids.britannica.com

4. Michael Jackson 5 Origin

In a city that's a bit of a "steel" deal and has some "thrilling" roots, Gary, Indiana actually has a name that's anything but a random pick from the "Michael Jackson 5" member hat: it's named after Elbert Henry Gary, co-founder of U.S. Steel and home to the mega Gary Works steel mill, as well as the birthplace of the iconic Jackson 5!
Source => stlyrics.com

5. SUE, the Largest T-rex Discovery

In a tale as old as SUE: a girl from Munster roams, seeking old bones in herds, and stumbles upon three dinosaur vertebrae to start a T-rextravaganza! Little did Sue Hendrickson - the fossil-lover behind our story - know, during a fateful South Dakotan summer in 1990, she would uncover the largest and most complete T-rex skeleton to date, sticking out of a cliff like a boneyard jigsaw puzzle!
Source => southshorecva.com

6. Indiana Dunes: Gary's Soft Side

Who says steel city can't have a soft side? The industrial powerhouse of Gary, Indiana surely knows how to let its sandy hair down: Located within its borders lies the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, spreading across over 15,000 acres of pristine beaches, towering sand dunes, and inviting hiking trails.
Source => theglobeandmail.com

7. The Magical RailCats Baseball

It’s not Hogwarts, but there's definitely some wizardry in the air: Gary, Indiana is home to the Steel Yard, a baseball stadium where the magical RailCats play, enchanting fans with a family-friendly whirlwind of entertainment, giveaways, and fireworks that are simply spellbinding.
Source => railcatsbaseball.com

8. Biodiversity in Indiana Dunes National Park

If you’re looking to get "dune" with nature, Indiana Dunes National Park is the sandy Shangri-La of the Midwest: This 15,000-acre park is a treasure trove of biodiversity, boasting over 50 miles of trails weaving through sinuous sand dunes, tranquil forests, bright prairies, and verdant wetlands, where you can spot a delightful array of plants and over 350 species of birds.
Source => nps.gov

9. Gary's Urban Woes Bingo

If Gary, Indiana were a bingo card for urban woes, it would be just a few abandoned buildings shy of a full house: the once-flourishing "Magic City" of the 1960s, praised for its innovative architecture and entertainment scene, met a cruel fate as its economy became shackled to the steel industry, ultimately bringing the city to its knees with staggering job losses, soaring crime rates, and widespread poverty, thus earning the unenviable title of "most miserable city in America."
Source => allthatsinteresting.com