One Of The Biggest Names In Music Grew Up In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published May 17, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Indiana is one of those states that most folks assume nothing’s ever come from; it’s a quiet, boring place, and all the greatest artists come from places like Los Angeles anyway, right? Wrong. Indiana’s actually been a fairly pivotal part of world history for a few reasons (there have been a TON of awesome inventions from Indiana), but there’s one particular claim to fame we’ve got that nobody else can possibly claim: the King of Pop was born here. In Gary. I know I know – Gary doesn’t have the best reputation, but in this case, it’s something to be celebrated. To this day, Michael Jackson’s childhood home is a place you can visit to honor the late musical icon.
Nestled in Gary--which is a controversial place thanks to its history of high violent crime rates and more than several thousand abandoned structures left to decay--you'll find an iconic home.
So do keep in mind when and if you decide to visit Michael Jackson's childhood home that it isn't in the greatest neighborhood... but it's a major part of history.
The house is located at 2300 Jackson Street, which is delightfully ironic (the street is named after the former President, not the Jackson family).
Michael Jackson was born in Gary in 1958. He would grow up here, in this house, until fame knocked at the door when he was just 11 years old in 1969 - at that time, his father would move the family to Los Angeles, and Michael's future of superstardom was set in stone.
It's thought that Jackson performed live for the first time at the age of six at the now-abandoned Garnett Elementary School, which is within walking distance of the house.
Today, you're not able to go into the house - but you may, quite obviously, take plenty of pictures of the exterior and all the bells and whistles.
Given Jackson's tremendous cultural influence on American and worldwide culture, the house has become a sort of mecca for his most devoted fans to come and pay their respects to the fallen idol.
Despite the controversy and allegations that existed during his life, it's impossible to deny the incredible impact his career had on just about every corner of the planet. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the United States (at least) who has never heard of Michael Jackson...
...and who knew that little ol' Gary was his hometown?
Well, now you do. Plan a visit - it's pretty intriguing for music fans to check out.
If you’re interested in more fascinating Indiana firsts, you ought to check out this new list of awesome Indiana inventions. Are you a fan of Michael Jackson and/or the Jackson 5? What about his sister, Janet, and her wondrous career? Tell me all your favorite Jackson memories in the comments.
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