Exhibits
Click on the name of the exhibit on the left to read more information about the exhibit and see images on the right.
We were Vegas before there was a Vegas… despite the fact that gambling in Indiana was illegal.
The Springs Valley boasted nine documented casinos and, probably, at least six others from the 1860's until 1949 when the state stopped looking the other way.
You’ll see relics from those old casinos and learn about some of the characters who ran them. (Yes, Al Capone and fellow Chicago mobsters were frequent visitors.)
This exhibit is sponsored by Peter Grigsby
Casinos
Color lithograph postcard of the Gorge Inn in French Lick. An elaborate stone archway that still stands today marks the entrance at the bottom of a long curving driveway. Located off the beaten path in a secluded hilly location, it was rumored to be a favorite gambling spot for Al Capone.
The Elite Café in French Lick down the street from the French Lick Springs Hotel. This building still stands today and houses the American Legion.
Color lithograph postcard of the dining porch at the Gorge Inn, French Lick.
Across the street from the French Lick Springs Hotel was by far the most lavish of the gambling casinos, the Brown Hotel. It ran every game known and had a reputation for supporting every vice as well. Some gaming establishments attracted guests with extravagant surroundings and others enticed gamblers with fine food and entertainment. Few casinos were open to the local residents.