The house at 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana is owned by Katherine Jackson, mother of the Jackson 5, and held in a revocable trust in her name. The family has kept title continuously since Joseph and Katherine Jackson bought the two-bedroom home in January 1950. It is a privately owned residence, not a museum, not a city-run landmark, and not part of Michael Jackson’s estate.
How the Trust Ownership Works
The legal owner on record with the Lake County Assessor is a revocable trust in Katherine Jackson’s name. Under Indiana law, a revocable trust can hold real property with the trust itself recognized as the legal owner. Katherine retains full control during her lifetime and can amend the trust’s terms, change beneficiaries, or dissolve it entirely. When she dies, a successor trustee named in the trust documents can transfer the property to heirs without the delays and public filings of Indiana probate.
This trust is a separate structure from the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Michael’s trust, administered by executors John Branca and John McClain, handles his posthumous earnings and allocates assets among Katherine, his three children, and charities. The Gary home predates Michael’s estate plan and sits in Katherine’s own trust, with different trustees, different assets, and a different purpose. That distinction matters because claims against Michael’s estate do not reach the Gary property, and the two sets of trustees act independently.
Holding the house in trust does not change its tax status. Lake County still assesses the property and bills annual taxes. Public tax records show the assessed value rose to roughly $51,300 in 2024, up from about $19,800 in 2023, with an annual tax bill of around $1,287. The jump likely reflects updated appraisals that account for the property’s cultural significance alongside broader reassessment trends in the area.
How the Jackson Family Came to Own It
Joseph and Katherine Jackson bought the house in January 1950, shortly after it was built in 1949. They raised nine children there, including the five brothers who became the Jackson 5. The family lived in the home until the group’s breakout success led them to move to California in 1969.
Rather than sell after the move, the Jacksons kept the Gary property. For decades the deed stayed in Joseph and Katherine’s names. At some point the title was transferred into Katherine’s revocable trust, consolidating control and simplifying later estate planning. The documented chain of ownership shows continuous family possession for more than seventy years, with no period in which an outside party held title.
Is the House Open to the Public?
No. Because the home is privately owned, visitors can view the exterior but must stay outside the fence that surrounds the property. No one is permitted inside the house. Fans have developed an informal tradition of attaching padlocks to the front gate as a tribute. The block is otherwise an ordinary residential street, and neighbors have noted that the steady flow of visitors creates real disruption to daily life there.
The fence does more than mark the yard. It establishes a clear legal boundary and signals that the interior is off-limits, which matters for a privately owned home that draws regular uninvited foot traffic. Gary’s zoning code requires special use permits for certain business activities conducted from residential properties. Passive visitor traffic to a fenced private home likely falls short of triggering that requirement, but organized tours, ticket sales, or commercial filming would change the analysis. Questions about specific property uses go to the Gary Zoning Department at zoning@gary.gov.
Is the Home a Designated Historic Landmark?
Not yet. As of the most recent public information, 2300 Jackson Street has not been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In May 2024, Indiana Landmarks began preparing an application for that designation through its Black Heritage Preservation Program. Eunice Trotter, the program’s director, confirmed the effort was underway but that the home was not yet listed.
If the application succeeds, the property would receive a bronze plaque identifying it as a nationally recognized landmark and would become eligible for limited federal preservation grants. It could also qualify for the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, which allows owners of certified historic structures to claim a credit equal to 20 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenses under Internal Revenue Code Section 47. That credit requires substantial rehabilitation, meaning qualified expenses must exceed the greater of the building’s adjusted basis or $5,000 within a 24-month period.1Internal Revenue Service. Rehabilitation Credit
Local Preservation Rules That Already Apply
Even without federal listing, Gary’s municipal code includes Chapter 111, a historic preservation ordinance that can protect structures with historical or architectural significance. The ordinance’s stated purpose is to maintain established residential neighborhoods, enhance property values, attract residents, and support tourism.2Municode Library. Chapter 111 – Historical Preservation
Under Section 111-53, historic buildings and sites must be maintained to prevent loss of historic material and deterioration of character-defining features. Ordinary repairs are permitted so long as they do not conspicuously change design, materials, or external appearance. Section 111-52 requires that any alteration, reconstruction, or relocation of a historic structure preserve its historical and architectural character, and a historic building can only be moved if keeping it in place would be inconsistent with preservation goals.2Municode Library. Chapter 111 – Historical Preservation
Gary also operates a Redevelopment Commission with broad authority over property acquisition and economic development under Indiana Code 36-7-14. No public records confirm any formal agreement between the Commission and the Jackson family regarding 2300 Jackson Street. Any city involvement in the property’s upkeep likely runs through general municipal services and the historic preservation framework rather than a special arrangement.