Steel Giants: Historic Images from the Calumet Regional Archives

At the turn of the 20th century, an army of workers descended upon thenorthwest Indiana dunes to forge a world-class steel industry for America. As aresult of the mills constructed by companies such as U.S. Steel and Inland Steel, grid-like cities on the shoreline of Lake Michigan grew into prosperous steel towns, drawing workers from all over the country and beyond. The C

At the turn of the 20th century, an army of workers descended upon thenorthwest Indiana dunes to forge a world-class steel industry for America. As aresult of the mills constructed by companies such as U.S. Steel and Inland Steel, grid-like cities on the shoreline of Lake Michigan grew into prosperous steel towns, drawing workers from all over the country and beyond. The Calumet region became oneof the most heavily populated and ethnically diverse regions in the nation. Thestory of its phenomenal growth was captured by photographers from U.S. Steel in Garyand Inland Steel in East Chicago. Steel Giants presents a selection of thesedramatic photographs, with detailed captions, showing the construction of the steelmills and steel towns, the early production of steel, and the people who lived andworked in the industry.