Top left photo by Rainer Viertelböck

The Michigan City Library, one of world-renowned architect Helmut Jahn’s first commissions, is fairly well known. When Jahn died in 2021, an exhibit about his life at the Chicago Architecture Foundation featured a model of the library, finished in 1977. (Also: Jahn designed the auditorium at La Lumiere in LaPorte.) Ever since we moved here full time six years ago, I’ve been meaning to stop in the library.

Then on a sunny fall day last year I finally did. I loved the way the building’s sawtoothed roof design let light in. The exterior walls are translucent fiberglass that let in sunlight and create a soft glow outside at night. A couple original pod chairs—totally fun—had recently been reupholstered.

But I never imagined there was a lovely interior courtyard, hidden from the street, with honey locust trees, Virginia creeper, shrubbery and a magnficent large sculpture, Centura, created by nationally recognized artist S. Thomas Scarf.

A few benches make it a wonderful place to spend an hour on a sunny day, like your own private garden no one else knows about. Check it out once it gets warm. And if you want to see some fantastic photos by Rainer Viertelböck of the library, for which Jahn won numerous awards, check them out on Jahn’s site.

Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth St., Michigan City, IN