Growing up in grant county I've always wanted to go! We had a great time and enjoyed learning about the history. The place was well kept and clean, and staff were friendly.

We visited here years ago and thought it was amazing. As a James Dean fan, it was so exciting to see this collection of items. It’s well-organized and the person running it is kind and amazing. From here, we were also able to see other James Dean related sites thanks to the help and guidance of the owner. If you’re a fan of James Dean or interested in him at all, I’d suggest you visit!

With three magnificent movie credits to his name--Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden and Giant--before his untimely death in a car crash at age 24, actor James Dean is still remembered as a cultural icon. Today, two museums in his hometown of Fairmount, Indiana, display large collections of his personal belongings and memorabilia that attract old-time fans of a man who was nominated for two Academy Awards after his death. One is the James Dean Gallery. Located at 425 North Main Street, off l-69 at exit 55, it was established in 1988 by James Dean archivist Davide Loehr, who began accumulating the world's largest collection of James Dean memorabilia in 1974. It is housed in a beautifully restored 1903 Victorian home, located on a tree-lined street. The museum exhibit fills several rooms and chronicles Dean's boyhood years while growing up on his aunt and uncle's farm outside Fairmount to his Hollywood years and the tragic car crash that claimed his life in 1955. There also is a screening room where James Dean film clips are continuously shown as well as rare screen tests and an early interview. As you tour through the house, from one room to another, from one exhibit to another, you'll see childhood photographs, high school yearbooks, Dean's personal items, a tiny violin that Dean played as a young boy, Dean's BB gun, original movie posters and books and magazines dedicated to Dean dating from the mid-1950s to the present. It's all part of James Dean Gallery founder David Loehr's private collection. After growing up on a farm in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he studied design, became interested in New York's art and music scene, befriended artists such as Andy Warhol, became a painter, concert and festival organizer and booking agent, even operated a t-shirt and spandex clothing factory. But his life changed in 1973 when he read a book about James Dean and saw his three films--Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden and Giant--and launched into a lifetime dedicated to Dean's legacy. He scoured used book stores, memorabilia shops and flea markets, looking for anything and everything related to Dean. The result is the James Dean Gallery. The Kenneth Kendall Room is filled with photographs, drawings, sculptures, souvenir plates, novelty items, gum cards, ceramic busts and mugs. Don't forget to stop at James Dean Memorial Park in Fairmount to see Kendall's 1955 bronze bust of Dean. The original is displayed at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. The Adeline Nall Room is dedicated to Dean's high school speech and drama teacher and includes showcases dedicated to Dean's three major films, copies of his high school yearbooks, early schoolwork and snapshots from his high school years. The Novelty Room features dozens of watches and clocks with Dean's image, commemorative plates and mugs. The Archive and Library Room has been used by several authors and film makers working on documentaries and includes over 1,000 photographs, hundreds of books and magazines and file cabinets filled with newspaper clippings and information regarding Dean from birth to death. Finally, REBEL REBEL Collectibles is located in the back two rooms of the James Dean Gallery. It features a large assortment of 1950s and 1960s collectibles, including lamps, ashtrays, ceramics, books, magazines and all manner of Dean memorabilia.

I came back to Fairmount after more than 41 years. Went to visit this awesome Gallery, had a greay chat with both owners, they showed me around saw interesting things that belonged to James Dean. If you are in Indiana, you must ho to Fairmount and visit the Gallery!

Very nice and knowledgeable staff person! He had a lot of great information and answers to all of our questions. They have a lot of things on display and a nice film about James Dean’s TV work. It is well worth going to see.