Valparaiso has retained an active downtown. It remains a mix of government, retail and business center, with a mixed residential and service area (retail and restaurants). Numerous economic changes have not changed the basic character, historic courthouse area. The historic district retains the distinctive turn-of-the-19th-century architecture, supporting numerous small specialty shops, shaded sidewalks, and a people friendly environment. The Downtown District, is anchored on the Porter County Courthouse

Porter County Courthouse (Indiana)

Porter County Courthouse is in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana. The current building replaced the brick building in 1883. The current building is 128 feet by 98 feet. It was built with a square tower rising out of the center. The tower was 168 feet tall with a clock on each side. Built of...

. It includes 14-blocks surrounding the square, bounded on the north by Jefferson Street, on the east by Morgan Street, on the south by Monroe Street, and on the west by Napoleon Street.

Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District (added 1990 - District - #90000327)


Also known as See Also: Porter County Jail and Sheriff's House

Porter County Jail and Sheriff's House

Porter County Jail and Sheriff’s House are located southeast of the County Courthouse in Valparaiso, Indiana. Overtime, the needs of the county grew and these original structures were replaced by a new jail in 1974, just south of the original jail on Franklin Street. By 2000, the county again...

; Porter County Opera House

Porter County Memorial Opera Hall

The Porter County Memorial Hall, also known as Memorial Opera House, is an historic Grand Army of the Republic memorial hall located in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was the meeting place of Chaplain Brown GAR Post No. 106, one of 592 GAR posts in Indiana. Designed in 1892 by a local architect, Charles...

Period of Significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949

Owner: Private , Local Gov't

Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Government, Social

Historic Sub-function: Business, City Hall, Department Store, Financial Institution, Meeting Hall, Post Office, Professional

Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Government, Social

Current Sub-function: Business, City Hall, Department Store, Financial Institution, Meeting Hall, Post Office, Professional