One of the core missions of The Psychogenealogist is to Find, Tell, and Celebrate the forgotten stories of strangers from the past. One of the ways I do that is by efficiently scouring antique stores for old photographs.

To close out the summer, I planned a 30-hour round trip to Indiana to visit a cousin at a Greek Festival, with 14 antique shops built into the route.

What followed was a fast-moving, photo-scouting journey through southwest Michigan into northwest Indiana—a blur of barns, booths, and the occasional bin of identified treasures.

Below is my stop-by-stop recap, with a small gallery of photo finds at the end.

Burgess Antique Center – Galesburg, MI

Arrived: 10:30 AM Departed: 11:20 AM Spent: $41.13

This place started the trip off with a bang. Bright, spacious, and surprisingly rich in photos—including a framed shot of the Gilbert Building that immediately caught my eye. I originally thought it was a building in Detroit, but I am now almost certain that it was in Grand Rapids, MI. It was only $20 and is already one of my favorite finds.

*The Gilbert Building, 1930s, probably in Grand Rapids, MI — delightfully framed and priced to sell.*

I would absolutely return. This is one of those “destination” stores—worth going out of your way a little for.

Great Lakes Antique Mall – Coloma, MI

Arrived: 12:08 PM Departed: 12:48 PM Spent: $3.18

Large, well-organized, and not unpleasant… but not exactly charming either. It felt like walking through a spacious drugstore lined with evenly spaced, uninspired antique booths. Still, there were just enough photo opportunities to make it worthwhile—I left with one blurry image of a yet-to-be-identified building.

And then there was this—and plenty more scenes like it that were hard to ignore.

Sawyer Antique Mall – Sawyer, MI

Arrived: 1:21 PM Departed: 1:31 PM

*Vibe check: curious music, curated displays, and no public restrooms.*

Despite the sign claiming 20,000 square feet, it didn’t feel huge. Warm, curated, and a little upscale. Some fun wall hangings and quirky music (electronica?). Not great for photo collectors, and the very prominent “No Public Restroom” sign right as you walk in was oddly menacing.

The Antique Market – Michigan City, IN

Arrived: 1:12 PM CST Departed: 1:55 PM

This had a “friendly warehouse” feel. Old-timey music and a good browsing rhythm. Found some solid photo opportunities here—mostly portraits, but a few gems tucked in. No purchases.

Bonus Stop: Nannis (Behind Antique Market)

Not on my original list, but a welcome surprise. A small shop that feels bigger inside than it looks. Neat displays and a few photos, but none that I picked up.

Crown Antique Mall – Crown Point, IN

Arrived: 2:53 PM Departed: 3:29 PM Spent: $5.35

Two side-by-side modern barns filled with toys, vintage decor, and some ephemera. More retro than antique, but plenty to explore.

One highlight: I found a well-labeled group photo. Carole (from Rescued Treasures) rang me up and said, “Oh, this is one from my booth.” She said the woman labeled #2 in the back was her great-grandmother, Anna Williams.

It hurt my photo-collecting soul a little that she so easily parted with it. She didn’t know much else about her, other than a possible Pennsylvania connection. I told her I try to tell the stories of old photos and would follow up.

*A well-labeled group photo that turned into a living family link.*

*No. 2. Anna Williams, PA - a relative of the shopkeeper.*

Antiques on Main – Crown Point, IN

Arrived: 3:40 PM Departed: 3:51 PM

A small, pleasant stop. Some framed photos but no loose ephemera. A quick and quaint browse before the next stop.

On the Square Antique Emporium – Crown Point

Arrived: 3:55 PM Departed: 4:05 PM

Larger than it looks, with three floors and a smattering of photos. Some cool displays but nothing I had to have. I could’ve lingered longer but was short on time.

Saturday Wrap-Up

Eight stores in about seven hours (including driving). I spent around $50 on photographs. I closed out the night at the Greek Festival in Merrillville, Indiana, where my cousin Maria put me to work in the pastry-cutting room. I slept well that night—filled with lamb chops, baklava, and the satisfaction of new finds.

Sunday: Return Route + Bonus Stops

Sunday started with a leisurely breakfast before I hit the road again. I had a loose plan based on opening times and geography.

Lakeside Antiques – Bridgman, MI

Arrived: 11:58 AM Departed: 12:09 PM

Small and well-curated, with more decorative wall art than paper ephemera. Beautifully arranged.

As I left Lakeside Antiques, my energy—though not my resolve—was waning. I happened upon a cluster of three very cool stores in Harbert that hadn’t been on my radar. I stopped keeping track of exact times at this point, but I browsed those surprise stops and then continued on to my final few planned stores—stretching what would have been a three-hour straight drive into a five-hour final push.

Bonus Stops – Harbert, MI

Arrived: 12:15 AM Arrived Home: 5:00 PM

Harbert Antique Mall

Think artful and elevated. No photos here, but one of my favorite signs of the trip.

Millie’s Antiques – Harbert, MI

Tiny but well-styled. I saw a decent horse and farm photo but passed. Worth a 10-minute stop if nearby.

Alchemy Art & Antiques – Harbert, MI

A former bank turned art-meets-antiques space. High-end, more gallery than store. The vault door is still intact, which I forgot to photograph. Their Instagram says it best: “Elevated antiques and design, modernist art, and bespoke historical artifacts… in an award-winning architectural gem.”

Final Stretch

Some early disappointment—two shops I had planned to visit were permanently closed (a good reminder to always verify hours). But I found a couple of others:

Amazing Grace Antiques – Marshall, MI

My notes say “sweet and small.” For the life of me, I can’t picture it now, so probably not a must-visit.

Alice & Giles – Marshall, MI

A great way to end the trip. Small, curated with love, and true to their Instagram promise: “art, ephemera, antiques, textiles, curiosities.” I purchased several identified cabinet cards and spent about $20.

*One of my last finds at Alice and Giles: a family portrait from the early 1900s, with names, ages, and even their departure for Washington carefully noted on the back.*

Final Thoughts

In just under 30 hours, I drove across two states, visited more than a dozen antique stores, and came home with a handful of meaningful photographs—including one with a living connection. Not bad for a weekend’s work.

The hunt, after all, is only half the joy. The other half is in sharing the finds—some of which you’ll see in the gallery below.