Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Indiana Landmarks and Beverly Shores
Depot Museum and Art Gallery join forces to ensure historic building’s future
The future of the iconic pink South Shore Station at Beverly Shores is on a firm foundation for
the next century with a new partnership. Through a long-term 100-year lease between the
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) and Indiana Landmarks, the
Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery will be a long-term tenant in the building,
continuing their decades-long stewardship for the community landmark.
“Partnerships form the backbone of our work across the state to preserve historic places,” says
Brad Ward, president of Indiana Landmarks. “We are thrilled to work with regional leader NICTD
to further the Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery’s work to ensure this landmark is
enjoyed by the community.”
Some 35 years ago, the Spanish Colonial Revival-style depot—the last remaining 1920s train
depot of the South Shore Line—was slated for demolition before dedicated local supporters
rallied to save it and secure its listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The
Town of Beverly Shores partnered with the museum to restore the building using federal
funding, and the museum and art gallery began occupying the building in 1988. Today, the
depot, with its iconic scripted neon sign, houses a history museum, boutique art gallery, gift
shop, and serves as a vital and dynamic cultural and community center.
As its original 100-year lease with Northern Indiana Public Service Company neared its
expiration date, NICTD, with its nearby Pine Avenue station, needed a long-term plan for the
depot, a flag stop on its South Shore line. The new agreement between NICTD, Indiana
Landmarks, and the Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery will ensure the depot
remains serving the local community and that the public can continue to enjoy the Beverly
Shores artifacts and art installations the museum maintains. The station will also remain a stop
for the South Shore line.
Indiana Landmarks will inform and guide the museum’s board on an as-requested basis,
providing access to grants and other forms of assistance. To facilitate work on the building,
NICTD will provide an initial $50,000 grant for needed repairs and an annual contribution to
assist with ongoing maintenance.
“We are thrilled to have the knowledge and resources of Indiana Landmarks behind us as we
work to preserve this historic treasure, the depot,” said Monique Rub, Beverly Shores Depot
Museum and Art Gallery board president.
“The South Shore Line deeply appreciates this new partnership with the railroad, the town and
Indiana Landmarks,” adds Michael Noland, NICTD president and CEO. “Preserving this historic
piece of our history and the Samuel Insull era of the railroad takes a group effort. This strategic
partnership brings Indiana Landmarks into the fold to help secure much-needed resources for
this community and regional asset, and we are most grateful.”
Photo credit: Rafi Wilkinson
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Monique Rub, Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery, moniquetrub@gmail.com
312-989-0853.
Todd Zeiger,- Director, Indiana Landmarks Northern Regional Office, 574-286-5765,
tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, 219-926-5744 x 308
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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage,
and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks
helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and
downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana
Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-
450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.