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Two Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Troop 1057 rest at the bottom of Mount Baldy after sliding down on Nov. 12, 1975.
Michael Budrys/Chicago Tribune
Two Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Troop 1057 rest at the bottom of Mount Baldy after sliding down on Nov. 12, 1975.

Vintage:: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Chicago Tribune
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The Prairie Club takes a pilgrimage on Memorial Day 1909 to the Indiana Dunes during one of its Saturday afternoon walking trips. The Prairie Club was influential in establishing the Dunes as a national lakeshore in 1966, according to the National Park Service.
The Prairie Club takes a pilgrimage on Memorial Day 1909 to the Indiana Dunes during one of its Saturday afternoon walking trips. The Prairie Club was influential in establishing the Dunes as a national lakeshore in 1966, according to the National Park Service.
Women from the Central Eleanor Club relax in the sand in 1915 during a trip to the Indiana Dunes.
Women from the Central Eleanor Club relax in the sand in 1915 during a trip to the Indiana Dunes.
A pair of actors perform the dance “The Awakening” on Memorial Day 1915 at the Indiana Dunes.
Families make the Indiana Dunes their playground for canoeing, swimming and basking, as illustrated in this undated photo.
Families make the Indiana Dunes their playground for canoeing, swimming and basking, as illustrated in this undated photo.
A booklet from 1917 promotes that year's historical pageant, which helped promote the Indiana Dunes as a national park. The public was treated to works from artists, actors and musicians.
A booklet from 1917 promotes that year’s historical pageant, which helped promote the Indiana Dunes as a national park. The public was treated to works from artists, actors and musicians.
According to an interview with the Tribune in 1916, Alice Gray, better known as “Diana of the Dunes,” lived in a little 10 x 20 shack she named “Driftwood” at the Indiana Dunes. The shack had a sand-floor and was abandoned when she moved in.
The Indiana Dunes State Park Pavilion was under construction from 1929-30. In February 2015 the state signed a lease with Pavilion Partners to restore the structure. The planned addition of a three-story, 30,000-square-foot banquet center adjacent to the Pavilion has proved controversial.
The Indiana Dunes State Park Pavilion was under construction from 1929-30. In February 2015 the state signed a lease with Pavilion Partners to restore the structure. The planned addition of a three-story, 30,000-square-foot banquet center adjacent to the Pavilion has proved controversial.
A general view of Indiana Dunes State Park, 1931.
A general view of Indiana Dunes State Park, 1931.
This three-story brick home was built for the 1933-34 Century of Progress World's Fair, which inspired experimental housing designs. The unique homes in the exhibition were relocated to Beverly Shores, Ind., a resort community at the Indiana Dunes. Only a few remain standing today.
This three-story brick home was built for the 1933-34 Century of Progress World’s Fair, which inspired experimental housing designs. The unique homes in the exhibition were relocated to Beverly Shores, Ind., a resort community at the Indiana Dunes. Only a few remain standing today.
Chicago engineer Octave Chanute was a little-known pioneer whose glider designs and experiments at the Indiana Dunes, between 1896 and 1898, served as inspiration to the Wright Brothers. Chanute, shown in this undated photo at Miller Beach, died in 1910. ..OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT..00298842A Fascination with Flight
Chicago engineer Octave Chanute was a little-known pioneer whose glider designs and experiments at the Indiana Dunes, between 1896 and 1898, served as inspiration to the Wright Brothers. Chanute, shown in this undated photo at Miller Beach, died in 1910.
..OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT..00298842A Fascination with Flight
“Furnanceville Blow” is one of the picturesque valleys in the ever-changing Indiana Dunes, shown here in April 1947. The Dunes has more than 1,135 native plant species and ranks seventh in plant diversity among United States national parks, according to the National Park Service.
A couple poses outside the “lookout house” built in 1822 at the Bailly Homestead, a National Historic Landmark in the Indiana Dunes, in April 1947.
A youth camp in the Indiana Dunes State Park in 1947 featured wooden tepees that slept 16 people.
A youth camp in the Indiana Dunes State Park in 1947 featured wooden tepees that slept 16 people.
Standing on a small dune overlooking a supervised swimming area at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore are Pamela Warnock, 3, left, and her sister, Rebecca, 2, of Evanston in 1960.
Standing on a small dune overlooking a supervised swimming area at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore are Pamela Warnock, 3, left, and her sister, Rebecca, 2, of Evanston in 1960.
The beach hotel and arcade at Indiana State Dunes Park, with shifting sands encroaching on the walk, on April 11, 1947.
The beach hotel and arcade at Indiana State Dunes Park, with shifting sands encroaching on the walk, on April 11, 1947.
A young woman strolls along the Indiana Dunes shoreline at dusk. When this photo was republished on July 16, 1967, Congress had recently approved $1.5 million for development of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, adding an additional 6,500 acres to Indiana's park development at the time.
A young woman strolls along the Indiana Dunes shoreline at dusk. When this photo was republished on July 16, 1967, Congress had recently approved $1.5 million for development of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, adding an additional 6,500 acres to Indiana’s park development at the time.
A group of women carry picnic supplies to a spot at the Indiana Dunes State Park on May 20, 1964. Although the water was chilly for swimming, the sun and sands were perfect for sunbathing.
A group of women carry picnic supplies to a spot at the Indiana Dunes State Park on May 20, 1964. Although the water was chilly for swimming, the sun and sands were perfect for sunbathing.
An Indiana Dunes visitor sits on a dune bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, near Beverly Shores, in August 1961
An Indiana Dunes visitor sits on a dune bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, near Beverly Shores, in August 1961
A grocery store at the Indiana Dunes State Park from July 14, 1972, has all the nostalgic feels of summertime camping.
A grocery store at the Indiana Dunes State Park from July 14, 1972, has all the nostalgic feels of summertime camping.
In May 1972, the Tribune reported that more than 1 million square feet of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore were washed away from 1966 to 1971. Here, a portion of Lake Front Drive along the Indiana lakeshore washed away due to erosion on May 19, 1972.
In May 1972, the Tribune reported that more than 1 million square feet of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore were washed away from 1966 to 1971. Here, a portion of Lake Front Drive along the Indiana lakeshore washed away due to erosion on May 19, 1972.
A swimmer makes his way toward the water in the Indiana Dunes in May 1972, but first he'll have to overcome the debris that used to be Lake Front Drive. Water action from Lake Michigan washed out the sand beneath the road and collapsed it in Beverly Shores, Ind.
A swimmer makes his way toward the water in the Indiana Dunes in May 1972, but first he’ll have to overcome the debris that used to be Lake Front Drive. Water action from Lake Michigan washed out the sand beneath the road and collapsed it in Beverly Shores, Ind.
A young cyclist roars through a section of Indiana's sand dunes, circa 1972.
A young cyclist roars through a section of Indiana’s sand dunes, circa 1972.
A park official at the Indiana Dunes fogs the area to keep away pests in July 1972.
A park official at the Indiana Dunes fogs the area to keep away pests in July 1972.
A full beach at Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
A full beach at Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
David Mills, 10, from Cleveland, begins to pull himself from the sand at the Indiana Dunes on July 7, 1973. He and his parents were on vacation.
David Mills, 10, from Cleveland, begins to pull himself from the sand at the Indiana Dunes on July 7, 1973. He and his parents were on vacation.
Park authorities patrol the beach at the Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
Park authorities patrol the beach at the Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
A small stream with a trial hides inside Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
A small stream with a trial hides inside Indiana Dunes State Park on July 7, 1973.
A woman strolls the beach at the Indiana Dunes on a fall day on Sept. 26, 1974. The lakeshore is open to visitors during the off season, but lifeguards are only on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, according to the National Park Service.
A woman strolls the beach at the Indiana Dunes on a fall day on Sept. 26, 1974. The lakeshore is open to visitors during the off season, but lifeguards are only on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, according to the National Park Service.
School children play atop Mount Baldy, the Indiana Dunes' largest moving dune on Nov. 12, 1975. According to the National Park Service, Mount Baldy stands 126 feet tall and moves an average of four feet inward each year.
School children play atop Mount Baldy, the Indiana Dunes’ largest moving dune on Nov. 12, 1975. According to the National Park Service, Mount Baldy stands 126 feet tall and moves an average of four feet inward each year.
Two Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Troop 1057 rest at the bottom of Mount Baldy after sliding down on Nov. 12, 1975.
Two Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Troop 1057 rest at the bottom of Mount Baldy after sliding down on Nov. 12, 1975.
Before the Indiana Dunes was declared a national lakeshore in 1966, lakeside houses were built in the area, shown here on Oct. 26, 1989. Some residents stayed in the homes on long-term leases and asked Congress to let them stay even longer.
Before the Indiana Dunes was declared a national lakeshore in 1966, lakeside houses were built in the area, shown here on Oct. 26, 1989. Some residents stayed in the homes on long-term leases and asked Congress to let them stay even longer.
An industrial area looms over West Beach at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1996. In the 1970s, many concerned officials and conservationists feared the construction of nuclear power plants nearby would encroach on the Indiana Dunes' natural beauty and bring the threat of industrial pollution to the area.
An industrial area looms over West Beach at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1996. In the 1970s, many concerned officials and conservationists feared the construction of nuclear power plants nearby would encroach on the Indiana Dunes’ natural beauty and bring the threat of industrial pollution to the area.

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