Welcome to Buckley Homestead Living History Farm and home of the Calumet Astronomy Center (Conway Observatory Field Laboratory and NIRo - Northern Indiana Robotic Observatory)

3606 Belshaw Road - Lowell, Indiana 46356
Park open 7 a.m. - sunset year round

Buckley Homestead Main House and historical building hours vary depending on season.  Click on  programs and events for more information.

Buckley Homestead Visitor’s Center: 41.283566,-87.377509

Calumet Astronomical Center (Conway Observatory and Northern Indiana Robotic Telescope - NIRo)  at Buckley Homestead: 41.268504,-87.375031

Exit Interstate 65 at Route 2 in Lowell for about 4 miles to Hendricks Road. Travel south for 1/4 mile to the visitor center parking lot.  The farmstead is located at the intersection of Belshaw and Hendricks Roads.  Following the walking path through the orchard to the homestead..

Calumet Astronomy Center is located southeast of the historic farm.  From the intersection of Belshaw and Hendricks turn left (east) on Belshaw to the first street south (Chase) then south for one mile to the observatory.

Buckley Homestead County Park offers the following features:

 
  • barbeque facilities
  • barrier free toilet
  • cross country trails (no rentals)
  • gift shop (September & October)
  • guided group tours (reservations)
  • hayrides (tractor driven)
  • hayrides (horse drawn)
  • hiking trails
  • historical buildings (open seasonally)
  • Main house museum 

 

 

  • 1916 barnyard and farm animals
  • 1850s pioneer farmstead
  • 1900s one room schoolhouse
  • 1750s era Native American Village
  • interpretive staff
  • open play fields
  • program fee (special activities)
  • picnic shelters
  • picnic tables
  • special events
  • toilets (flush at the Visitor Center)
  • toilets ("old-fashioned non-flushable")

 

 

 

WELCOME TO BUCKLEY HOMESTEAD LIVING HISTORY FARM

Step into the past when you visit Buckley Homestead. When the Buckley’s first settled in Northwest Indiana in 1849 they would never have imagined that their farmstead would one day be of interest to visitors one hundred and fifty years into the future.

The Buckley’s were Irish immigrants who arrived here in the mid-1800s. They developed their land into a 150-head dairy farm and sold milk to the Chicago market in the early 1900s. The farm grew in size from 79 acres to 520 acres as it passed through four generations.

In 1977, part of the homestead was donated by Rose Buckley Pearce to the Lake County Parks so that park visitors could experience the feeling of early farm life through a living history outdoor museum.

We Hope You Enjoy Your Tour . .

Upon arrival to the park you’ll notice the Visitor Center, located next to the parking area. It includes restroom facilities, drinking fountain, information kiosk, and gift shop which is open Sunday afternoons from May through the first of August and weekends the end of August through October. Take the path from the Visitor Center past the herb garden and through the orchard to the Buckley family farm.

If the buildings are closed when you visit feel free to peek in windows. Better yet, come back when the buildings are open. Be sure to read the signs at each building.

Main House Museum – Did you realize that many farms were divided by a roadway? The side of the road with the house was considered where women’s work was done – housework, gardening, and care of the chickens.  On the farm side tasks fell to the men folk.

Off to School – You’ll find the path to the school behind the Hired Hand’s House. Look for horses and cows in the pasture along the way but stay on the trail, as you may encounter poison ivy and wild things if you wander too far. The Buckley School is a replica of the original one-room school that was open from the middle 1800s until the 1920s. The outhouses and water pump are safe for public use. Be sure that children don’t place their hands too high on the handle when pumping water – fingers may get pinched

Pioneer Farm – Follow the path along the fence row from the school to the pioneer farm – a log house from the mid-1800s shows how early pioneers lived in northern Indiana.  Make certain to check to schedule to see if the Native American Woodland Indian Camp is open.

Back Again – From the pioneer farm follow the path down the hill and along the stream. Turn left at the first opportunity to cross the scenic footbridge over the meandering creek. This will take you back to the Buckley Farm. The main house museum in open Sundays May through the first of August from noon to 4 p.m. and both Saturday and Sundays from the last of August through October from noon until 5 p.m.

Call 219-769-PARK or call the park at 219-696-0769.

FOR SHELTER RESERVATIONS, SCHOOL GROUP, OTHER GROUP RESERVATIONS or SUMMER PROGRAMS CALL

Phone:  219-769-PARK (7275)

Lake County Parks and Recreation Department Corporate Offices
8411 East Lincoln Highway, Crown Point, Indiana 46307 

Just west of Deep River Waterpark   4.5 miles east of I-65 on Route 30

 

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