famous people from laporte county la porte indiana 1

Famous People From LaPorte County Indiana

    We just discovered that one PanoramaNOW’s most popular articles was during the Bicentennial when we published “Prominent People of La Porte County.” So we thought we would re-visit that topic and expand it. 
     Many famous people from La Porte County have made significant contributions, not just locally but nationally and internationally. The exhibit was on display at the LaPorte County Museum in 2016.
     The photo on the home page was of Michigan City native, Anne Baxter. She is famous for the movie is “The Ten Commandments” where Anne played Nefertiri, and many more appearances.
     Some more of LaPorte’s famous people include foot-specialist Dr. Scholl, first space administrator Roy Johnson, and artist Isamu Noguchi.       
     Famous People that are still alive include: World Series no-hitter pitcher Don Larsen, movie star Ashley Hinshaw, and Siri inventor Dag Kittlaus.
All Shown Below:

 

Ashley Hinshaw laporte county famous actor
     Ashley Hinshaw, Ashley Grace is an American actress. She is known for her leading role in the 2012 film “About Cherry,” and for her role in the 2016 Crackle television series “StartUp.”

Jim Gaffigan from laporte indiana comedian e1738778559648
     Jim Gaffigan, James Christopher Gaffigan is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. His material often addresses fatherhood, laziness, food, religion, and general observations. He is regarded as a “clean” comic, using little profanity in his routines, although he does use it from time to time.

Chris Bootcheck famouse baseball player from laporte county indiana e1738778744987

     Chris Bootcheck, Christopher Brandon Bootcheck is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees, in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yokohama BayStars, and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

Dag Kittlaus siri inventor from laporte indiana
      Dag Kittlaus is a top A.I. and Tech Entrepreneurial keynote speaker, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder and CEO of two digital assistant companies, Siri and Viv. Siri was later acquired by Apple 2010, and Viv was acquired by Samsung, forming the basis for the digital voice assistant Bixby.

belle guness the murder musical michigan city indiana e1697032393310
     Belle Gunness, Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth, nicknamed Hell’s Belle, was a Norwegian-American serial killer who was active in Illinois and Indiana between 1884 and 1908.
 
     The La Porte County Historical Society Museum has a special exhibit and Seminars on Bell Guness, every year, (usually around Halloween) So, follow them on Social media for upcoming events.

     Please visit www.laportecountyhistory.org for further information about the Society and its Museum. The museum is located at 2405 Indiana Ave # 1, La Porte, IN 46350 and can be reached by calling: Phone: (219) 324-6767.  Email, and Follow them on Facebook here.

MORE ARTICLES WE THINK YOU’LL LIKE . . .

Michigan City Building an All Inclusive Playground Fitness Park at Fedders Alley Washington park on lake michigan

Michigan City Building an All-Inclusive Playground & Fitness Park at Fedder’s Alley /Washington

     Bringing a new milestone to Washington Park on Lake Michigan, a new All-Inclusive Playground and Fitness park is coming to Michigan City at Fedder’s Alley.           The funding measure was introduced by Council members Don Przybylinski, Nancy Moldenhauer, and Tim Bietry, with Daisy Lee added as a sponsor to the…

Continue Reading →

 

rhonda ashcraft is the new laporte civic auditorium director

Rhonda Ashcraft is the New LaPorte Civic Auditorium Director

LaPorte Civic Auditorium is pleased to introduce Rhonda Ashcraft as their new Civic Auditorium Director. The La Porte native brings sales, marketing and operations experience to the position. She holds cherished memories of the Civic Auditorium and is proud to now serve the community in this meaningful role.“I am truly grateful for the opportunity and…

Continue Reading →

 

things to do festivals events calendar laporte indiana

Things to Do In LaPorte Indiana

LaPorte County Indiana is located in the Northwest Indiana and Michigan Regions between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. The Laporte County area is a fun and great place to visit. There are many family fun activities and some relaxing activities with friends. Explore the outdoors and visit the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, go hiking, biking, fishing, swimming and boating! Come grab a bite to eat and do some shopping at Lighthouse Place Discount Mall in Michigan City. There’s also live theatre, historical attractions and Bluechip Casino to visit. See the many attractions we have below! 
Continue Reading . . .

 

porter county museum guided tour with quinn albert valparaiso indiana bailly point of view

From a Bailly Point Of View Exhibit at the PoCo Museum thru Mid April

Though Joseph Bailly looms large in the memory of Porter County as its first nonnative settler, the lives and work of three generations of Bailly women—Marie, Rose, and Frances—truly shaped the Bailly homestead and public perception of the family legacy. Joseph Bailly became involved in the Great Lakes Fur Trade when he was eighteen years…

Continue Reading →

geise church christmas laporte historical museum e1703085052752

La Porte County’s “A Night at the Giese Church” Returning in 2025

People were amazed at last year’s Annual Event, “A Night at the Giese Church.” This year’s event will be held December 20th, 2025 at the La Porte County Historical Museum. In spite of the flashy electronic, digital, video games and toys of today, children of all ages still become excited as they peer through the tiny stained-glass windows to watch the little church share its Christmas message. Historian, Bruce Johnson, County Historian, shared the history of the Giese Church and PanoramaNOW who published the history of the church last year for everyone to find and learn more about this amazing project that has been around in LaPorte County for years and years. 
Continue Reading . . . 

 

belle guiness history for spooky halloween event at laporte county historical museum

Belle Gunness Movie and Historical walk by La Porte County

Join the La Porte County Historical Museum on Saturday, October 21 to learn about Belle Gunness and her terrible, murderess, and evil actions. About Belle Gunness:

       Belle was born in 1859 into a poor family in a small village in Norway, and later immigrated to the United States to live with her sister Nellie Larson in Chicago. 
     Belle and Mads Sorensons, a department store detective, had opened a Candy Store downtown Chicago. The store was not successful, and the business burned down after a year. Insurance money was paid to the Sorenesons who moved to Austin, Texas. This home was destroyed by fire in 1898.
CONTINUE READING . . . 

 ’.

Regional streeters annual car show crown point indiana

Cobe Cup – The Original Indy 500

     The excitement returns to Northwest Indiana thanks to the Regional Streeters Car Club. The Annual and Historical Cobe Cup Car Cruise is held EVERY Memorial Weekend. The course mocks the original historical race of 1909 – going thru Crown Point, Lowell and Cedar Lake, starting at Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, Indiana. 
Continue Reading . . 

 

Hoosier Star LaPorte Indiana

Hoosier Star Changes Format in 2025 To Feature Past Decade Winners

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this popular event, we have invited the adult winners from the past nine Hoosier Star competitions to return to the stage of the La Porte Civic Auditorium and compete for the ultimate title: Hoosier Star of Stars! The LCSO is announces the 20th Anniversary Hoosier will not have it’s…

Continue Reading →

restoring the house of tomorrow completion by summer 2025 indiana landmarks glass house beverly shores
Indiana Landmarks Announces the Restoration of the “House of Tomorrow”

     With the support of $4 million from the Great American Outdoors Act funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, the future of the House of Tomorrow looks bright once again. In April 2024, Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Dunes National Park launched the first phase of the landmark’s rehabilitation—restoring the structure’s exterior and…

Continue Reading →

National Parks Cypress Log Cabin Available for Lodging indiana dunes national park

National Park’s Cypress Log Cabin Available for Lodging

The Cypress Log Cabin is a significant piece of American history. Originally built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, at the Fair’s end in 1935, the home was transported to Beverly Shores and has stood as a testament to the era’s rustic aesthetic ever since. After serving as a private home for several decades, it…

Continue Reading →

Everyday Items That Came From the Chicago World's Fair

Everyday Items That Came From the Chicago World’s Fair

The World’s Columbian Exposition was held in 1933 to commemorate 400 years since Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. A new century was dawning, and new technologies were emerging. Windy Chicago boasted the best event anyone would ever see, which attracted more than 27 million visitors. The impacts of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair are long-lasting, and some affects are still being discovered, such as the impact of H. H. Holmes’s murders. Other impacts are part of your daily life such as these everyday items that came from the Chicago World’s Fair. Check them out! 
Continue Reading . . .


hostory comes alive nwindiana bailley homestead panoramanow nwindiana chellburg farmRead our Several Historical Articles here

 

apples garwood orchards

Apple Fest Announces 2026 Vendors

 

Sue

Sue Baxter

Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn 

About The Author

Sue Baxter

Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak - a national news affiliate.