Learn about Porter County’s electric rail line in our newest featured exhibit. The museum will be open late until 6p for downtown trick-or-treating.

The Valparaiso and Northern Railway (V&N) was an electric interurban train line in Porter County that began service in 1910. Originally intended as a feeder line to the ambitious cross-country Chicago New York Electric Air Line Railroad, the V&N connected Valparaiso to Chesterton by way of the lake resorts between them.

While the promise of the Air Line was never realized, the V&N was initially quite successful, connecting vacationers to the booming resort communities of Flint and Long Lakes. Ultimately, as more automobiles populated the improving and expansive highway system and the nation faced an economic depression, the V&N interurban ceased service in 1938.