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Spanning the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan, the Calumet Region ties together Illinois and Indiana’s shared past and future by highlighting their vibrant set of cultural and environmental assets. The Pullman National Historic Park and the Indiana Dunes National Park bookend the Calumet Heritage area, boasting some of Illinois’ richest industrial history and Indiana’s finest freshwater beaches. The national parks are surrounded by vibrant and diverse communities that hold the stories of the region’s rich past and the promise of an innovative future. The Calumet area tells a regional yet nationally important story of the perseverance of working class immigrants, the rise and fall of industry and the resilience of nature despite the pressures of development.

Designating the Calumet region as a National Heritage Area will ensure the assets that tell the region’s story are preserved and interpreted to advance economic opportunity, and enrich the lives of its residents and of visitors from across the nation with support from federal investments.