Pioneer glided way into history
One hundred years ago Octave Chanute came to Gary,
not far from the site of the Gary Bathing Beach Pavillion, to
experiment with gliders and kites, laying the foundation for the
development of the first aircraft.
Chanute walked onto the shores of Lake Michigan in
the Miller section of Gary on June 22, 1896 and became known as the
"Crazy Man of the Dunes" because he often flew his gliders over the
heads of sunbathers and swimmers. Chanute's designs were later used by
Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers credited with inventing the
first "flying machine." Chanute's gliders literally changed the world.
You can reach a page devoted to Chanute from the links page.
How can
I help restore the Marquette Park Aquatorium?
The restoration work
you have viewed on this page is expensive. The Gary Bathing Beach
Bathhouse ceased to function in 1970. In the years since then, the
building had fallen into very sad shape. Indeed, barricades had to be
erected around the building to protect people from falling bricks.
The Aquatorium
Society, the organization dedicated to restoring the building, has
spent more than $325,522.13 in repairs so far, and needs to raise that
same amount again to complete restoration.
You can contribute
any amount to the effort to restore the Marquette Park Aquatorium. Send
your contributions to:
The Aquatorium Society
607 South Lake St., Suite A
Gary, IN 46403
Or call 1-219-938-8080 for more information.
|