Northwest Indiana has numerous historic sites, buildings and structures that serve as examples of the region's physical and cultural development. However, many of Northwest Indiana's historic resources are endangered due to neglect, increased development throughout the region and population movement away from the historic downtowns and city centers.

Northwest Indiana has numerous historic sites, buildings and structures that serve as examples of the region's physical and cultural development. However, many of Northwest Indiana's historic resources are endangered due to neglect, increased development throughout the region and population movement away from the historic downtowns and city centers.

When a historic resource, such as a school, church or commercial building, is declared unsuitable to continue its historic use in modern society, many times it is replaced, left to deteriorate or demolished for parking. The recent demolition of the circa 1870 Strattan Opera House in Hobart is an example. Communities have begun to recognize that by allowing their historic resources to be destroyed, they are not only losing the physical evidence of their history but also the architectural identity of their community.

When a community comes together for the purpose of saving its historic resources, the end result includes not only the preservation of a building but an increased sense of community pride. Local preservation involves identifying and reclaiming a community's history and heritage. Local preservation involves an agreement between local government and its constituents that they will work together to preserve the historic resources, while encouraging new development and the adaptive use of these historic resources. Local preservation also includes an understanding that preserving the architectural integrity and character of the local community is a necessity and should not be compromised by the prevalence of new construction and encroaching development.

Assisting local governments, communities and preservation organizations has been a goal of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana since its creation in 1960. The Calumet Region Office was established to serve Lake and Porter counties. Services provided by the Calumet Region office, as well as Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, include providing technical preservation assistance to property owners and interested preservationists, aiding in the establishment of local preservation groups and organizations dedicated to preserving historic resources and assisting local governments with the adoption of historic preservation ordinances and the creation of local historic districts and design guidelines by historic preservation commissions.

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana also has programs and resources that can be useful for preservation groups and their preservation projects.

We encourage those who are interested in preserving the history of the Calumet Region to join Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The work that we do could not be done without the support of our members. For those who are not members, visit our Web site at www.historiclandmarks.org to learn about membership benefits. Our Web site also provides information about our services, programs and a calendar of events throughout Indiana.

For those who are in need of assistance with a preservation project or would like more information about Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and the Calumet Region Office, call (219) 938-2200 or send an e-mail to calumet@historiclandmarks.org.

Tiffany Tolbert is director of Calumet Region office of Historic Landmark Foundation of Indiana.