Help Preserve Grasselli Tower!

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana has been given an opportunity by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company to acquire a very unique piece of railroad history - Grasselli Tower in East Chicago. The IHB decommissioned the tower during the later part of 2007 and promptly offered the tower to the HVRM. Grasselli is one of the last remaining railroad towers in Northern Indiana.

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is working quickly to preserve this piece of American history... but we need your help! The cost to preserve this amazing example of early railroad technology is approximately $50,000. It may seem like a lot of money, but if 2,500 people make a donation of just $20, it would be enough to cover the move to North Judson and help with the tower restoration.

HVRM members Mark Stanek (left) and Les Beckman (right) examine some plans for the IHB's Grasselli Tower on a cold spring day.

Share Your Tower Stories

We're looking for your stories about railroad towers and cabins. If you have a tower story, please share your experiences with us! Your story may be published on our website and will help all of our visitors better understand how railroad towers worked.

Link to the Grasselli Tower Website

If you provide a link to the Grasselli Tower website, we will return the favor by providing a reciprical link to your website. Your links will help us increase awareness of our preservation effort.

A group from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum and the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad inspects the lever system at Grasselli Tower.

You Can Now Make Your Donation Online!

Through our affiliation with the Starke County Community Foundation, we can now accept your donation online. The process is simple, so make your online donation today!

As of April 20, 2008 the Grasselli Tower Project has received $32,727.39 in cash donations and pledges! -THANK YOU!

Not sure how our to read our Donation Meter? Check out our page on Donation Meter Signal Aspects.

A northbound (timetable east) bottle train led by NS GP38-2 #5336 (in full Conrail paint) prepares to hit the diamonds at Grasselli on January 17, 2008.