Last week on our way to Maine, we stopped in Northern Indiana to check up on some Michael Jackson history. First we landed at the Hard Rock Cafe where a replica of Joe Jackson’s original guitar from 1965 is displayed outside. It is thirty seven feet tall and fifteen feet, seven and a half inches wide. Simply said, big! Joe Jackson supplemented his income by playing music on this guitar.
Next in Gary, Indiana, we stopped to see the Jackson Family home. Imagine the family of Joe and Katherine with their nine children living in this six hundred seventy two square foot home! The whole family lived here until 1969 when Joe took the Jackson 5 to Los Angeles.
Outside the home is a big marble plaque for Michael Jackson.
This is the back side. The home and yard are fenced off, thus the fence is in the house photo but Mom stuck her camera through the fence for photos of the monument. If you are in the Gary, Indiana It is worth a stop to the Hard Rock and the Jackson home.
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My mom loved Michael Jackson, especially his earlier songs when he was 5 years old. She was devastated when she heard that he had died. That is a very small house for so many. We knew a family of 7 kids with two peeps and they lived in a small house too and there were lots of bunk beds.
We can’t believe there were nine kids and the parents in the tiny two bedroom house! It was fun to see the place and hear the story of Joe’s guitar.
Awww ~ great photo of you sweet doggie so well traveled ~ hugs
an artist reflects
Thank you. We do love our traveling.
that was great to visit the king of pop… I liked him a lot… but I was in the Prince fan club ;O)
Mom was into Michael Jackson and Prince as they were both huge in her college years.
Wow! We had no idea about the Indiana connection! Great post. Thanks for sharing your finds on the road!! your friend Chester
Mom is always on the look out for the unusual, then she reads up on things and we all learn new things. Glad you learned something new too.
There is no doubt that Michael was one of the most talented, creative, and gifted entertainers to ever step on a stage. His music will last to the end of the age. Have a blessed week.
He was a bit strange but his music was wonderful. It is sad he died so young and senselessly.
Another great travel find! We have put Gary, Indiana on our travel list!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Be careful, your list is growing like a weed! There are a lot of interesting things to find and learn about, it’s amazing really.
I didn’t know they lived here. What a small home for that many people. Wow. Thanks for the history lesson. I loved Michael Jackson. Such a talent.
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Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches to the pups and a hug to mom. ♥
They were all in that little two bedroom house until Joe took the five kids to LA to be the Jackson Five.
My goodness me I had no idea how small the home was.
thank you for stopping to pose and take photos
Hugs cecilia
It is super small. Mom can’t imagine trying to live there with nine kids and two adults.
I had no idea the size of the home. I do recall that it was in Indiana.
Thank your for stopping. You always find the most interesting facts on your trips
Hugs cecilia
I hope this comment publishes
Mom likes to find fun things for us to see and learn about.
Interesting find on your travels.
The world is full of interesting things to see if one looks.
I would enjoy the the Hard Rock, they are always fun.
Mom loves the Hard Rock Cafes too.
Yes, big families often had small houses then, and they just shared and made the best of it. Thanks for the mini-tour!
We can’t imaging all those people in such a tiny home.
We are constantly amazed by the interesting places and memorabilia that your mom finds! My one family of cousins had 9 children, and they lived in a ONE-bedroom house, it was scary at bedtime because if you didn’t move fast you would get stuck between the pullout sofa and the kitchen table where two kids slept on top of the table and three slept under it.
It’s truly amazing how people live, and then look where the Jacksons ended up!
I had no idea the King of Pop came from such humble beginnings. Thanks for sharing that little touch of history on your travels.
Mom says she had heard about it before but to see it in person makes it all real and amazing.