In 1929 Chicago architect, Arthur L. Gerber designed the station, along with others on the South Shore Line, in the Mediterranean Spanish style. This train depot was one of two stations serving Beverly Shores. It also served as the residence of the Station Master. When the last Station Master retired, this building slid into disrepair. In 1988, like its sister station at Central Street, it was headed for demolition.
Thanks to a gift from Ann Carlson, daughter of the original builder of residences in town, many photos of original buildings in Beverly Shores were preserved and donated to the town in the interest of preserving history. This gift triggered the curiosity and creativity of a number of courageous, inventive, and determined people. Over the course of 10 years they set about the task of saving this station from demolition.
A group of Beverly Shores residents, along with others like the Superintendent of the Indiana Dunes National Park at the time, NIPSCO, and Save the Dunes, and others banded together to preserve this building. With a major effort, they obtained a designation for the building on the National Register for Historical places. These tenacious residents then collected funds totaling some $500,000.00 from residents, organizations, companies, grants, and anywhere else they were able. Restoration of the structure then began.
In 1998, the South Shore Train Depot opened its doors once again, and, in February of 1999, the Beverly Shores Museum and Art Gallery, Inc. was born. Today, the building, the single South Shore station of its kind remaining on the line, continues to serve visitors and commuters. The building is owned by NICTD, the Northern Indiana Commuter Train District. Half of the building serves as a train station. An agreement between the town and NICTD provides that the other half serves as our town’s history museum, a regional art gallery, and a gift shop attracting both residents and others from Northwest Indiana. These are managed by The Beverly Shores Museum and Art Gallery, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit governed by a wholly volunteer board of directors. Any commissions from sales in the Gallery or Gift Shop go directly to supporting programming at The Depot.
525 South Broadway
Beverly Shores, IN 46301