Before they became world-famous singers and dancers and made their way to California, Michael Jackson and his siblings lived with their parents, Joseph and Katherine, in a small, two-bedroom home in Gary, IN. But while 2300 Jackson Street was lacking in space, it was overflowing with love and music when the family of 11 was there.
“I think about how we raised all those kids in that little house. It’s just amazing to me how we did it,” Katherine once told OWN in an interview.
While the outside of the home is a tourist attraction, very few people have set foot inside.
Because even after seeing the “Michael” movie too many times to count, we’re still soaking up every opportunity to glimpse into the real lives of the Jacksons beyond the silver screen. That’s why we’re giving you a look inside the famous family’s Gary home.
Just 30 miles from Chicago, the Jackson family put Gary, IN, once a town with a thriving steel industry, on the map. If you make your way to Gary, and you want to see the Jackson home, you don’t have to worry about getting lost. The town honored the family in 2o21 with signs like the one above along area highways.
It Was Always Jackson Street
The Jackson family home is located at 2300 Jackson Street. Considering how many legendary stars with the last name ‘Jackson’ grew up in that home, you might think the city changed the street name in their honor. But as Janet explained, the name was there long before the family was.
“A lot of people think that they named this street after us, but it was always Jackson Street,” she told Lifetime.
The Home Where Stars Were Born
It’s hard to believe that all nine Jackson siblings once lived here, but Katherine and Joseph Jackson raised all of their children together in this 670-square-foot bungalow, which featured two bedrooms and one bathroom, until they moved to California in 1969, according to Entertainment Tonight.
“When we were little, this house seemed so big,” Randy Jackson told Lifetime. “This is where we grew up, played, fought, made music. This is where it started.”
A Tourist Destination
These days, the home is still intact and is a tourist destination for fans of the Jacksons from around the world. Although they can check out the exterior of the home, they have to stay outside the gate that surrounds the property, as visitors are not allowed inside.
Locks of Love
Fans who visit the Jackson family home leave locks on the gate to show their love for the family that brought them countless hits over the years.
The Kitchen
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. This space was where many family meals (and memories) were made.
Family Dinners Happened Here
The Jackson family shared many family dinners around the table in their eat-in kitchen.
Cozy Living Room
The living room was also a rehearsal space for the Jackson siblings to practice their routines. It was also where the Jackson sisters, Janet, La Toya and Rebbie slept.
The Boys’ Room
The six Jackson brothers slept together in this bedroom in their Gary home. The boys shared a three-tiered bunk bed, with Jackie on the bottom, Marlon, Randy and Michael sharing the middle bed, and Jermaine and Tito on top. While you can’t help but be close to someone you share such a small space with, Randy remembers that sometimes things got a little too close for comfort.
“Marlon and Michael used to pee on me,” he told Janet when they toured the home for a Lifetime special.
Family Photos
According to Entertainment Tonight, the Jackson family still owns the Gary, IN home today, which is filled with special mementos, including family photos.
An “Ode” to Art
This plaque, featuring a famous line from Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s poem, “Ode,” is another special keepsake inside the home. The line was also quoted in the film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
A Tribute to Michael
After Michael Jackson’s 2009 death, a 5,000-pound granite monument, featuring pictures and song lyrics honoring his legendary career, was placed outside the family home. The monument remained in front of the home until 2017, when it was removed, according to the Northwest Indiana Times.
Hometown Heroes
The city of Gary showed their love for the Jacksons in 2016 by honoring them with a 200-foot-by-200-foot mural just two miles away from the home where they honed their talents. The black and white mural was painted on the side of a vacant building by local artist Felix “Flex” Maldonado and his assistant Omar “OMS” Marin.
