Historical Images of Porter County

Fort Dearborn Scene

Pageant of the Dunes, 1917
Indiana Dunes State Park

Date: 1917
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not Applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: The Historical Pageant of the Dunes took place on May 30, 1917, using Waverly Beach as an amphitheater. The pageant was an enormous event comprising hundreds of actors and attracting estimated 40,000 spectators. The event was undertaken to generate support for the creation of a state or national park. The following quote is from the program published for the event by the Dunes Pageant Association:

"For many years there has been an active propaganda for the conservation of natural beauty about Chicago, the preservation of the Indiana Sand Dunes as a protected state or national park, being especially desired. This association believed that in no better way could the value and beauty of the Dunes be shown the residents of Indiana and Illinois than by an historical pageant which would in the first part accent the remarkable connection of the Dune country with American history, and in the second part project the wonder and beauty of the Dunes, through poetry, music and dancing."

The photograph here is believed to be showing Episode 5 from the pageant, titled "Fort Dearborn Scene," which was performed by members of the Turner Society of Chicago and represented the 1804 to 1812 period in the region.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook