There’s No Other Historical Landmark In Indiana Quite Like This 10,000-Year-Old Dune
By Tori Jane|Published September 26, 2021
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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.
If there’s anything that’s consistent no matter where in the world you travel, one of those things is that you can count on landmarks existing everywhere. It seems like every place has its own little thing: the water tower, that one tree, the house painted a different color than the rest of the neighborhood… things like that. Indiana is no different; for example, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is probably the most famous landmark in the Midwest. But the Hoosier State is home to another truly unique and awe-inspiring landmark that simply cannot be missed. The dunes along the shoreline of Lake Michigan are a one-of-a-kind historical landmark in Indiana that you’ve truly got to experience to believe.
In 1966, this immensely unexpected area was authorized as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and, in 2019, it became Indiana's newest National Park.
There is truly nothing at all like this small portion of the Hoosier State. Nowhere else will you find ancient sand dunes - still "living," mind you - in the entirety of the region.
It's a particularly special landmark, and it's so uniquely Hoosier.
The park itself runs along about 20 miles of Lake Michigan's southern shore, and it's incredibly scenic. Lake Michigan is so enormous that it gives one the impression that they're on a tropical beach somewhere instead of in land-locked Indiana.
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The eldest dunes in the area formed around 10,000 years ago.
The "newest" ones, the ones one could say are still "living," are the dunes located closest to the shoreline of Lake Michigan and began forming somewhere around 6,000 years ago. They are ever-evolving and ever-shifting, and in another 10,000 years, the area could easily be entirely different than it is now.
When people think about Indiana, they very, very probably don't think of sand dunes - but after a visit to Indiana Dunes National Park, they just might.
The landmark status of the dunes is evident in the fact that no matter which grown Hoosier State resident you ask, you can simply show them a photo of the park and they'll tell you it's the dunes - much like someone from Arizona will immediately recognize the Grand Canyon.
Indiana Dunes National Park is a beautiful slice of beachy paradise, and it's truly unlike any other landmarks in the Midwest - if not the whole country!
We recommend a visit to this incredible Indiana landmark during the middle of the week, when it tends to be a lot calmer and quieter than on the weekends.
The dunes are in no way a secret; they're one of the most popular destinations in Indiana, and for great reason. They are, simply put, just that awe-inspiring.
Come soothe your spirit on your own, or bring the entire family.
Which historical landmark in Indiana is your favorite? Tell us all about it in the comments – we love to hear from you! If you have any places or events you’d like to see featured sometime, make sure to send us your suggestions here.
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