Lowell's vintage, historic Downtown Shopping and Dining District is set among circa 1880 buildings which are on the National Registry of Historic Places. In 2007, we were awarded "Best of the Midwest" by Rand McNally in their Midwest Get-Away Guide.  We're proud of our quaint shops, friendly merchants and turn-of-the-century architecture.  Whether you're shopping, dinning, or just sittin' a spell, there's always something special to see or do.
Fun awaits you!

Antique hunters have always been drawn to Lowell.  There's a treasure around every corner.  Stop in at our shops for antiques, primitives, gourmet chocolates and country jams.  You'll also find nineteenth century items, 50's kitsch, vintage linen, dolls and 1920's flapper dresses and hats.  Explore a 1903 bank building, robbed in 1933 by four members of the John Dillinger gang that now houses a posh hair salon, written up in the Chicago Daily Herald.  Merle Norman cosmetics can be found at one, while other salons offer a variety of pampering services and hair and nail products. Gift shopping is great in Lowell.  Meander into our gift shops and you will find that special "something" for yourself or a loved one.  Check out our apparel and accessories store, boasting a rich history and family linage dating back to the 1800's.  They carry the finest lines of women's clothing.  Mother of the bride and groom attire is one of their specialties.  Our jewelry store, family owned and operated since 1928, is a full service jewelry store featuring a large selection of diamonds and colored stones, charms, clocks and Precious Moments.  One of our shops is the place for cottage decor - birdbaths, copper sprinklers, and more.  Our furniture store carries all manner of great home accessories.  Great finds
can be had at our consignment shop.

Hungry?  Have we got a meal for you!  Choose from eight restaurants located within the three-block Downtown District, from simple tastes to exquisite dining experiences. Dine in our Victorian cafe‚ and try stuffed French toast, raspberry chicken and delicious desserts. Perhaps you prefer the ambiance of our statuesque Cornerstone Mansion restaurant, built in the mid 1800's, it is the only surviving structure of the late 1800 fire which devastated the north side of our Historic Downtown.  Orginally the residence of Doctor Bacon and his family, it has been renovated into a grand restaurant.  There you will find flavored teas, scrumptious meals, a calming ambiance and a gift shop to delight you.  Lunch and dinner, along with a martini bar can be found across and farther down the street.  Familiar tastes of pizza, hot dogs and gyros can also be had in our Downtown.

Seasonal events and festivities are a must-see in our Downtown.  Enjoy Lilac Day, Apple Day, Yuletide Open House, car shows and parades just to name a few. Many events include street vendors, outdoor entertainment and townsfolk in period costume.

Historic discovery awaits you in Lowell.  Visit our Three Creeks War Memorial dedicated in 1905 by the Governor of Indiana.  The memorial lists those from South Lake County who served their country in four 19th century wars.  Step into the past with a visit to The Halsted House Museum. It is the home built by Lowell's founder, Melvin A. Halsted, in 1849 and is the oldest brick home in South Lake County.  Inside you'll find period furniture and fascinating artifacts. Buckley Homestead, est. 1849, is a living history farm whose guided tours are fun and educational. The farm offers historic buildings, picnic facilities, hiking trails and a gift shop.  Seasonal events include hayrides, bobsled rides, sheep shearing, quilting, corn maze, threshing, and Civil War, WWI and WWII reenactments.

Odd Bits

Lowell was founded in 1852 and celebrated its Sesquicentennial in 2002. There are two Lowells in Indiana, this one in Lake County and one in Bartholomew County, now part of Columbus, Indiana.

Comedienne Jo Anne Worley, star of stage, screen and, most notably, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In" is a Lowell native. Jo Anne now makes her home in Tuluca Lake, California.

Four members of the John Dillinger gang robbed a bank in Lowell in 1933. That building still stands at 316 E Commercial Ave and now is home to Cest Moi Salon, a full service salon.

In 1897, the graduating class of Lowell High School consisted of one person.

Bobo Rockefeller, known as Eva Paul in her Lowell High School yearbook, married a Rockefeller at age 30. Her divorce from Rockefeller netted her a record 5.5 million dollar settlement.

The grave of Gypsy the Cow, a national record-breaking milk producer, is at the Pleasant View Farm on Belshaw Rd. Her name is on a large sign and the grave is surrounded by a white picket fence.