Gary Exhibit to Showcase Steel Industry History

The Our Mill, Our Home photography exhibit opens at Gateway Park on October 24, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Manufacturing

Gary Exhibit to Showcase Steel Industry History

Live Poll

In your area, should the local government prioritize industrial job growth over new environmental regulations?

Decay Devils and local environmental organizations will host a photography and storytelling exhibit at Gateway Park on October 24, 2026. The project features 20 portraits and recorded interviews with community members and steelworkers.

Why it matters

The exhibit aims to document personal histories with the steel industry while supporting a campaign for cleaner manufacturing. It highlights the local environmental and health challenges linked to the region's industrial legacy.

The 2020 Indiana lung cancer rate was 72.5 per 100,000 people, according to the American Lung Association. Lake County currently faces one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the state.

The players

Decay Devils

This local organization focuses on documenting historical narratives and environmental advocacy through photography and community outreach.

Just Transition Northwest Indiana

This group facilitates advocacy and storytelling projects to address the social and environmental impacts of the regional steel industry.

Dorreen Carey

A long-term Gary resident and former steelworker, she spent seven years at Gary Works and decades engaged in local environmental advocacy.

The details

The exhibit, titled Our Mill, Our Home, includes stories from residents like Dorreen Carey, who worked at Gary Works for seven years. Organizers advocate for adopting direct reduction and electric arc furnaces to improve local air quality.

Dorreen Carey was laid off from Gary Works in 1983.
A 2016 report from JAMA Network identified Gary as having one of the lowest life expectancies.
Indiana lung cancer rates were measured at 72.5 per 100,000 people in 2020.
The exhibit opens at Gateway Park on October 24, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Market Landscape

This project highlights the shift toward electric arc furnace steelmaking as a critical technological transition for the region. It positions local advocacy against traditional manufacturing methods to capture a movement toward sustainable industry practices.

Residents attending the exhibit can learn about the history of local steel mills and current efforts to shift toward cleaner energy production. The event serves as a focal point for those interested in the environmental and health impacts of regional industry.

The takeaway

Understanding the personal narratives behind regional industry provides essential context for ongoing environmental advocacy efforts. Residents can use this history to better engage with local debates regarding health statistics and industrial regulation.