O'Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana

O’Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana

Finding O’Gara and Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers in Chesterton, Indiana was a great start to our latest Little Indiana trip. We didn’t realize that a bookstore had relocated into town.

From the outside, I could see the sheen of wood flooring and walls of exposed brick. It looked like the setting of a romantic comedy that would star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan back in the day. To say I couldn’t wait to get into this Porter County bookstore is an understatement.

O’Gara and Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers in Chesterton, Indiana

O'Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana

O’Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana

You already know it isn’t every day you find a mom and pop bookstore in a small Indiana town. It definitely isn’t very often you find a shop that specializes in rare and unique books too! Now that’s fun. What a beautiful, beautiful shop. From top to bottom it is gorgeous. Of course, I love the little ladders and step stools conveniently located around the shop. It’s so charming, don’t you think?

Founded in 1882 in Hyde Park, Chicago, the shop changed hands a few times before the purchase by Joseph O’Gara. Current owner Doug Wilson was a scout turned key part of the shop.

Now Doug Wilson and his wife have relocated the Chicago bookshop and opened up O’Gara and Wilson  in the town of Chesterton, Indiana–that once held an O’Gara and Wilson bookshop back in the 1990’s. They are very knowledgeable and eager to help. You should feel very comfortable asking for help finding whatever you need.

Chesterton, Indiana Bookstore

O'Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana Exterior

O’Gara and Wilson Antiquated Books in Chesterton, Indiana Exterior

There’s a great range of books to be browsed at O’Gara and Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers. Walking along the wood floors, admiring the wood bookcases, and seeing well-arranged shelving makes shopping a treat.

All of your favorite genres are in this bookstore: Children, History, Drama and the Theater, Religion, Regional, Parenting and Homeschool, Fiction and Literature, Literary Criticism, Poetry, Medieval, Renaissance, as well as Words and Education. Yes, you will find something.

Those are just a sampling of what you will discover carefully labeled above each tall, tall section. The occasional comfy chair invites you to enjoy the ambiance of this gleaming Indiana bookstore. The desk at the back of the shop provides ample room to get down to business.

Local Bookstore Fun

You know those old books. The incomparable attention to detail and those excellent fancy fonts full of swoops and swirls, the muted colors of the hardcovers, and the good smell of vintage. Browsing the shelves of O’Gara and Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers is pure joy.

To stay on top of the latest and greatest (and find plenty of hilarious book-related comics in the process), follow O’Gara and Wilson on Facebook.

Small Towns: Destinations, not Drive-Thrus! I’m Jessica Nunemaker and THIS is Little Indiana.

Just don’t forget to tell them that Little Indiana sent you.

O’Gara and Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers
223 Broadway
Chesterton, IN 46304
219.728.1326
HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please call ahead to verify.
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

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