Where Does A Christmas Story Take Place? The Real Hammond, Indiana

You might be surprised to learn that the famous movie "A Christmas Story" is set in Hammond, Indiana—or at least, it’s inspired by it. In the film, the Parker family lives in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, which represents the real hometown of the movie’s creator, Jean Shepherd. If you pay attention, you’ll spot subtle nods to Hammond throughout the movie. 
 

Where "A Christmas Story" Is Set: Indiana Connections 

If "A Christmas Story" is inspired by Hammond, where did the name Hohman come from? Zoom in on the map of downtown Hammond, and you’ll find that one of the main streets is called Hohman. Throughout the film, Shepherd included tributes to his hometown, which inspired his most famous work. 

There are more nods to real-life Hammond in "A Christmas Story". For example, Warren G. Harding Elementary School is where Ralphie and his friends go to school, and Cleveland Street is the street where Jean Shepherd, the movie’s creator, grew up. 

Even though the story is set in a fictional town based on Hammond, most of the outdoor scenes were filmed in Cleveland, Ohio. 
 

Jean Shepherd and His Roots in Hammond, Indiana 

"A Christmas Story" first appeared in a collection of short stories called In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, by Jean Shepherd. 

Jean Parker Shepherd grew up in Hammond and set all the short stories in his collection in the fictional town of Hohman. Several of these stories were combined to create "A Christmas Story". The stories in In God We Trust were originally shared on the radio and published in Playboy Magazine. 

Shepherd was born on the South Side of Chicago, but his family later moved to Hammond, Indiana. He grew up in the Hessville neighborhood on Hammond’s southeast side, graduated from Hammond High School in 1939, and took some college classes before joining the US Army during World War II. Shepherd is one of many remarkable people from Northwest Indiana. 

After World War II, Shepherd began a career in broadcast radio. Many of the stories he told on air later became the basis for In God We Trust and other collections of short stories. 
 

How Hammond Inspired the Story 

Bringing Shepherd’s version of Hammond to the big screen wasn’t easy. Shepherd said it took years to convince Hollywood producers to make the film. Director Bob Clark first became interested in Shepherd’s work after hearing him tell the story of “Flick’s Tongue" on the radio in 1968, but the movie wasn’t filmed and released until 1983. 

Director Bob Clark and Leigh Brown worked with Shepherd to turn his radio stories and short stories into the screenplay for "A Christmas Story". Shepherd narrated the movie himself and even appears in a cameo during the department store scene. 

When "A Christmas Story" was released in 1983, it was well-received and has since become a Christmas classic enjoyed by all ages. The movie connects with people across the country through its relatable family moments, schoolyard adventures, and the hope of a special gift from Santa. Older viewers especially enjoy the nostalgia, like looking through toy catalogs and visiting Santa in a busy department store. 

Today, the movie is a classic holiday tradition. TV stations air "A Christmas Story" every holiday season, and fans sometimes display leg lamp replicas in their windows as part of their decorations. While viewers may know the town as Hohman, the Christmas spirit of Hammond is still alive in this beloved film. 

Walking in Ralphie’s World Today 

Hohman Avenue in Hammond looks quite different now compared to when Jean Shepherd was young. Still, some historic buildings remain, like the Northern States Life Insurance Office Building, which became a local landmark in 1985. St. Joseph Church on Hohman Avenue, built in 1912, also still stands. 

If you visit Hammond, you can walk down Cleveland Street, where Jean Shepherd grew up and which is mentioned in the movie. Warren G. Harding Elementary School is still in town, though it has changed since Shepherd’s days there. 

Goldblatt’s, the real department store that inspired the one in "A Christmas Story", is no longer around, just like many other old department stores across the country. 
 

Visit "A Christmas Story" Comes Home in Hammond 

The spirit of the story is still alive in Hammond through "A Christmas Story" Comes Home. Each holiday season, the Indiana Welcome Center hosts an exhibition with six animatronic window displays inspired by the movie. These displays were first shown at Macy’s in New York City and have now returned to Hammond. 

The window displays memorable scenes from the movie, such as Higbee’s Department Store, A Hero’s Dream, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, The Bumpus Hounds, and The Parker Living Room. 

After you see the window displays, you can take a photo with Santa Claus, buy your own leg lamp replica at the gift shop, and snap a picture next to the Flick Statue outside the Indiana Welcome Center. But don’t lick the pole! 

Plan a visit to Hammond, Indiana, to explore the town that inspired "A Christmas Story".