Dorothy Buell - Saving the Indiana Dunes

Dorothy Buell was a dedicated conservationist who led the fight to protect the Indiana Dunes, helping to establish them as a national park.

Buell was born on December 1, 1886, in Neenah, Wisconsin and was the youngest of four children and showed a love for public speaking and faith early on. By the time she was 17, Dorothy was already leading meetings for her church’s youth group and winning contests in public speaking. She graduated from high school in 1905 with a class motto that perfectly described her future: Perseverance Wins.

Dorothy studied speech and drama in college and became well known for her performances and teaching. After college, she taught drama and remained active in her church. In 1918, she married Captain James Buell, and the couple lived in several places as James worked for the military and later in the utility industry. They had one son, Robert. The Buell’s moved around a lot but finally settled near the Indiana Dunes in the 1940s. Dorothy had visited the dunes as a child when her family had a cottage there. She loved the area and believed it should be protected so everyone could enjoy its beauty. This belief became the center of her life’s work.

In 1949, after visiting White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, Dorothy was inspired to help protect the Indiana Dunes. She attended a meeting of the Indiana Dunes Preservation Council and soon became its leader. At 65 years old, she had found a new purpose. Dorothy founded the Save the Dunes Council in 1952, gathering a group of 25 women to fight for the dunes. The council’s goal was to protect the dunes by educating people and buying land. Dorothy believed this cause was so important she was willing to spend her whole life on it. The council grew and soon included over a thousand members from across the country.

The fight was difficult. Many powerful industries wanted to build steel mills and ports on the dunes. Indiana politicians often sided with industry and ignored the council’s efforts. Dorothy faced skepticism and even condescension. Once, when she approached state leaders, she was told, “You’re a woman. You wouldn’t understand such things.” But Dorothy didn’t give up. To raise money and support, Dorothy created the “Children’s Crusade to Save the Dunes,” where school children sent pennies to help buy land. The council made many important land purchases, including Cowles Bog, a rare wetland studied by scientists. Dorothy worked closely with scientists, artists, and politicians to protect as much land as possible.

In 1958, Senator Paul Douglas introduced a bill to create a national park at the dunes. Dorothy worked hard alongside him, speaking at hearings and meeting with officials. She used her skills in public speaking and her faith to inspire others. Dorothy once said, “The fight for the Indiana Dunes was something I could not let go, anymore than I could let a child run in front of a car and not stop him.”

Despite many setbacks, Dorothy and the council’s persistence paid off. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a law establishing the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, protecting thousands of acres of dunes for future generations. Dorothy was proud of their work but remembered the long struggle to get there. Dorothy retired in 1967 due to her husband’s health but left behind a powerful legacy. She was honored by her alma mater, Lawrence College, and received awards for her conservation work. The visitor center at Indiana Dunes National Park was later named the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center in her honor.

Dorothy Buell’s story shows how one person’s passion, faith, and determination can protect natural places that everyone can enjoy. She spent her later years knowing that the dunes she loved would be saved forever.

References:
“Dorothy Buell.” Historical Society of Ogden Dunes, 28 May 2025, odhistory.org/historic-trail/dorothy-buell
“Dorothy Buell (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Dorothy Buell Artworks