Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium

The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium is a structure in Marquette Park designed with Prairie School and Neoclassical features built from six precast concrete modular blocks. It now houses exhibits about aviation history and sits along Lake Michigan's shore.

Architect George Washington Maher designed this structure in 1921 as a public bathhouse for the community. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, marking its recognition as a significant historical site.

The building once served as a public bathhouse and today tells the story of aviation pioneers and the Tuskegee Airmen who shaped military history. Visitors can explore how this community space became a place to remember important figures in flight history.

The location sits at One Marquette Drive in the Miller Beach area with direct shoreline access. Plan time to walk around the exterior and view the exhibits inside at a relaxed pace.

The term aquatorium was only coined in 1991 by the Chanute Aquatorium Society to describe this structure as a place for viewing water rather than bathing. This unusual name reflects how the building was given new meaning after its original purpose changed.

Location: Gary

Inception: 1921

Architects: George W. Maher

Architectural style: Prairie School architecture, Neoclassical architecture

Address: 1 Marquette Drive

Website: http://aquatorium.org

GPS coordinates: 41.61970,-87.25670

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:59