Stop by the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond if you are visiting the South Shore area or just passing through. While you stretch your legs, you can view the unique building structure, enjoy the various exhibits in the W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall and browse the gift shop. You can also pick up information about all there is to see and do, not only in the South Shore area, but brochures from all over Indiana.
The Building
The Indiana Welcome Center design encompasses some of the most memorable images of Northwest Indiana and uses them in the building structure.
The building is as diverse as the community itself - its people, the natural environment and man-made developments.
The structure starts with the most dominant natural feature in our area, Lake Michigan. The large exhibition space is created with the form of stainless steel "waves" glistening in the sun. These waves crash into the undulating "sand dunes" which are juxtaposed to the industry; steel denoted in the gray office form (second story) and the smokestacks of the entry canopy.
The natural terrain then rolls into the plains and farms, which is bordered to the south by the free-flowing Kankakee river depicted in the south facade of the building.
From this, the composition has sculpted a structure that symbolically tells the story of the area, houses the necessary functions for the Welcome Center, and leaves one with an image unseen elsewhere.
The Indiana Welcome Center also offers professional identity-related services through IdentoGO. The primary service is the secure capture and transmission of electronic fingerprints for employment, certification, licensing, TSA Precheck and other verification purposes.
To schedule an appointment, visit identogo.com or call 844-321-2124. Walk-ins are not accepted.
Visit the Welcome Center
Free Travel Brochures & Maps
Restrooms with Baby Changing Tables
Exhibit Hall
Gift Shop
Picnic Area
Pet Exercise Area
Location:
Off of I-80/94 on Kennedy Ave. South
7770 Corinne Dr., Hammond, Indiana
Phone:
219-989-7979
Hours:
Summer Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Daily 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Gift Shop 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Fall through Spring Hours
Daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Gift Shop 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Holiday Hours:
July 4th 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
W. F. Wellman Exhibit Hall
This 6500 sq. ft. of contemporary exhibit space is fashioned after the rolling waves of Lake Michigan. Varying exhibits from Model A Fords to "A Christmas Story" window displays to a steel-framed house have all called the Exhibit Hall home. Call 219-989-7979 for a complete schedule of upcoming events.
Every November and December, the Exhibit Hall hosts "A Christmas Story" Comes Home featuring window displays from Macy's in New York, photos with Santa (see site for Santa dates and times), and themed events like the Mommy's Little Piggy Mashed Potato Eating Contest.
The gift shop includes vintage South Shore Line posters, "A Christmas Story" movie memorabilia, Albanese gummies, Indiana t-shirts and sweatshirts, mugs and key chains.
The theater is available for corporate meetings and group rentals. Call 219-989-7770 to reserve.
Request More Information
Would you like more information about the South Shore and the Indiana Dunes? Use the links below to request an area guide be mailed to you, download our Indiana Dunes brochure, join our e-newsletter list or sign up for text alerts.
