The "Snow Cruiser"
1939

A crowd gathered around the "Snow Cruiser" as Dr. Thomas C. Poulter tested the experimental vehicle in the sand at the Indiana Dunes* in 1939. -- from the collection of Town Historian Richard C. Schmal

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*NOTE -- Museum Researcher Eva Hopkins from the Westchester Township History Museum, clarifies that the "Snow Cruiser" never actually made it to the Indiana Dunes State Park, but was tested in Gary. She explains:

This was not the Indiana Dunes State Park. It was not tested there.

On October 5, 1939, Chesterton Tribune wrote: "Test Snow Cruiser on Sand Dunes."

I looked up to see whether the Snow Cruiser actually made to the Indiana Dunes.

On October 25, 1939 - "Byrd Snow Cruiser Disappoints Thousands; May Come Later." This says it all. It did not come in the Indiana Dunes State Park.

There was an article on the "Chicago-born Antarctic cruiser never equaled hype" by Stephan Benzkofer in the Chicago Tribune 7/28/2013.

This is what Stephan Benzkofer says: "I found that the cruiser did some testing around Cleveland Street and Ridge Road in Gary at what appears to have been a construction area when they were building or extending Cleveland to 45th avenue. From 1939 articles in the Gary, Hammond and Michigan City papers, it appears maybe they took advantage of this construction area with its sand dunes to conduct some tests but the cruiser never reached the park itself."

I want to set the facts straight. The Snow Cruiser was never at the Indiana Dunes State Park. Pass it on.