The flurry of economic activity in Gary attracted visitors from the surrounding county who wanted to enjoy the luxuries that the 'Magic City' had to offer - including state-of-the-art architecture, cutting-edge entertainment, and a bustling economy. handling an amazing variety of jobs' in steel factories - 'some completely unskilled, some semiskilled, and some requiring great technical knowledge, precision, and facility.' LIFE photographer Margaret Bourke-White spent time documenting the unprecedented influx of women in the factories in Gary for the magazine, which chronicled 'women. Steel production rose even more during World War II and, with many men drafted into battle, work at the factories was taken over by women. The city hit its stride in the 1960s and was dubbed the 'Magic City' for its futuristic advances.īy the 1920s, Gary Works operated 12 blast furnaces and employed over 16,000 workers, making it the largest steel plant in the country. And with large orders of steel pouring in, the steel town of Gary continued to prosper. Unfortunately, a mix of racial tension, growing fears of Russian socialism, and an altogether weak workers' union allowed the companies to break the strikes and resume production. With more than 365,000 workers protesting, the massive strike hampered the country's steel industry and forced people to pay attention. Growing discontent among factory workers led to the Great Steel Strike of 1919, in which steel workers in mills across the country - including Gary Works - joined picket lines outside the factories demanding better conditions. After all, these employees barely had any legal protections from the government and were often forced to work 12 hour-shifts at a meager hourly pay.

However, the growing number of steel workers in the country led to the demand for fair wages and better work environments.

Soon, the town began to flourish economically. The steel mill attracted lots of workers from out of town, including foreign-born immigrants and African Americans who were looking for work. Jerry Cooke/Corbis via Getty Images A mill worker at the Gary Works keeps an eye on containers of molten steel during a casting process.

Abandoned places in indiana