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Tour Times (registration required)

11 am
2 pm

Exterior Photograph of Gene Stratton Porter House & Garden.

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Gene Stratton-Porter’s Cabin at Wildflower Woods is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake amongst 148 acres of fields, woods and beautiful formal gardens. Stratton-Porter is Indiana’s most widely-read female author, as well as a gifted nature photographer and entrepreneur.

She began her career writing about nature for magazines, but soon decided to reach larger audiences by sweetening her nature studies with a veneer of fiction. Stratton-Porter’s first novel was 1903’s The Song of the Cardinal, although Michael O’Halloran, 1915, was the first book she wrote in Rome City.

Designed by Gene Stratton-Porter and completed in 1914, the cabin is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake. The vast, undeveloped forest provided a rich source of material for her nature studies, writings and photography. Furnishings in the home are arranged and maintained to reflect Stratton-Porter’s lifestyle. Much of the furniture and personal collections, including her library, are preserved at the home.

Gene Stratton Porter cabin covered with snow

Gene Stratton Porter's Desk with typewriter

Family walking the Gene Stratton Porter Grounds

Guided tour of Gene Stratton Porter's House

STOP AND SMELL the WILDFLOWERS

Journey Indiana - Gene Stratton Porter at Wildflower Woods

Forest Path on the Gene Stratton Porter grounds

Explore your naturalist side

Explore the Carriage House Visitor Center to learn about moths, wildflowers, woodpeckers, carnivorous plants and other nature topics. Pull the drawers out from a large cabinet to see different types of rocks and wildlife found throughout Indiana.

Gene Stratton Porter Painting in her Garden

Relax in 148 acres of loveliness

Newly recognized as part of the Old-Growth Forest Network, the Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site offers 148 acres of natural beauty and biodiversity in the gardens, woods, lake shore and newly restored wetlands and prairies. The site also has over 3 miles of grass and mulched trails in the woods and along the fields, as well as a paved trail on the west portion of the site.

Various books from the Gene Stratton Porter Library

Discover Gene’s source of literary inspiration

In her lifetime, Porter authored 12 novels, seven nature studies, three poetry books, children’s books and numerous magazine articles. With an estimated 50 million readers, her works have been translated into several foreign languages as well as Braille. Eight of her novels were produced as motion pictures.

Historic Footage of Gene Stratton-Porter

Watch rare video footage of Gene Stratton-Porter

A multi-talented woman, Gene Stratton-Porter was not only a best-selling author and conservationist, she was heavily involved in the film industry. In spite of many years in Hollywood, there has been no film footage of Gene herself … until now. This unearthed video of Gene working on her property in Catalina Island in Avalon, California gives us a new glimpse at one of the most influential women in Hoosier history.

Wildflowers in the Gene Stratton Porter Garden

Gene Stratton Porter's Dining Room Overview

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Trellis on the Gene Stratton Porter grounds

PRESERVE THE LEGACY of GENE STRATTON-PORTER

Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site relies on the generosity of individuals like you—passionate people who share our belief in the power of informal lifelong learning. Interested in supporting Gene Stratton-Porter’s legacy? Make a restricted gift today online, via mail or by phone at 317.619.3352.

There’s More to See Around the State.

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WELCOME to GENE STRATTON-PORTER