An honest guide to the pilgrimage to Michael Jackson's birthplace in Gary, Indiana. How to get there, where to sleep, and the truth no one tells you about safety in the most decayed post-industrial city in the American Midwest.
An honest guide to the pilgrimage to Michael Jackson's birthplace in Gary, Indiana. How to get there, where to sleep, and the truth no one tells you about safety in the most decayed post-industrial city in the American Midwest.
2300 Jackson Street is a 50-minute drive from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and 40 minutes from Midway (MDW), always via I-90 East or the Skyway.
The house measures 56 m² with 2 bedrooms where nine Jackson siblings slept stacked in bunk beds, a historic landmark since 2009.
Gary lost 62% of its population between 1960 and 2020, dropping from 178,000 to 67,000 residents, and 35% of houses are abandoned.
Lodging in Merrillville (15 min south) costs USD 90-130 per night at Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn, versus USD 250+ in downtown Chicago.
Gary's Jackson 5 Birthday Celebration takes place every August 29 since 2010, a free event with concerts, food trucks, and guided tours.
An honest guide to the pilgrimage to Michael Jackson's birthplace in Gary, Indiana. How to get there, where to sleep, and the truth no one tells you about safety in the most decayed post-industrial city in the American Midwest.
