In 1908, an unschooled Indiana widow began a 20-year fight to defend 120 acres of Lake Michigan dunes from a steel giant; 72 years later, 212 acres including part of her tract joined Indiana Dunes to remain open space forever

In the early 1900s, an Indiana widow spent more than two decades fighting to defend her claim to 120 acres along Lake Michigan. Drusilla Carr had lived on the land for decades before it became valuable. As the city of Gary, Indiana, grew around her, the lakeshore that had once been seen as little more than sand and swamp became increasingly sought after for parks, homes and industry.

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