Car Museum South Bend Indiana

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Auburn Cord Dusenbergautomobile Museum

Photo: Carl Grant

When you think about the start of the U.S. automotiveindustry, chances are you picture automakers who still make cars to this day,like Cadillac. But there were plenty of automakers who were successful in theearly 20th century and no longer exist today. One such automaker wasAuburn, which made cars from 1900-1937 in Auburn, Indiana.

The present-day Auburn Cord Dusenberg Automobile Museum is located inside Auburn Automobiles 1930 national headquarters. It features more than 120 vehicles, from original horseless carriages to modern-day sports cars. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends. Its only closed three days a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

Photo: pepplerchristine

While youre in Auburn, also check out variety of museumswithin the Kruse Museums.

• The Automotive and Carriage Museum has a vastcollection of cars through the ages, such as antique carriages and aerodynamicrace cars.
• The Monster Truck Hall of Fame features arotating display of four famous monster trucks.
• The Northeast Indiana Racing Museum features onthe history of automobile racing in the Auburn and surrounding areas.

Famous cars on display include the Batmobile, the General Lee, KITT from Knight Rider, and several British royal carriages. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Indiana Automotive South Bend Tour

Join Indiana Automotive this summer for an inside look at automotive landmarks, museums, and an exclusive private collection in South Bend.

South Bend, Indiana

Join Indiana Automotive this summer in South Bend, a city rich in automotive history thanks to the legacy of the Studebaker family. The two-day tour on July 15 and 16 explores the Studebaker assembly plant , Studebaker National Museum, Studebaker Fountain, and Saint Pauls Memorial Church, built in 1901 with funds donated by Clement and Ann Studebaker. Well tour a private auto collection not ordinarily open to the public and get an exclusive look at South Bends Art Deco-style Union Station.

Your ticket includes a catered reception on Friday evening, lunch on Saturday, and admission to all tour sites, including The History Museum and Oliver Mansion. Indiana Automotive has arranged a group rate at Aloft South Bend for those wishing to make overnight accommodations.

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Quirky Attraction: The Studebaker Museum In South Bend Indiana

The Studebaker National MuseumLocation: South Bend, Indiana When to visit: Open daily 10 am to 5 pm Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for students Time needed: 30-45 minutes Website: www.studebakermuseum.org

Studebaker is a name associated with classic American cars. Pretty much the only thing I know about Studebakers is that they are vintage automobiles that look really cool. And thats all you need to know to visit the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana, where dozens of the old rides are on display.

For more than 60 years, Studebaker produced cars from its headquarters in South Bend Those here at the museum are in pristine condition. Walking around in here transported me to an earlier time, an era of drive-ins and soda shops.

Heres a glimpse of what you can find inside the Studebaker Museum, a three-level, 55,000-square foot facility.

More South Bend History

One gallery in The History Museum focuses on the South Bend Blue Sox, a team that played all 12 seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . The excellent collection of AAGPBL memorabilia tells the story of the womens league that started during World War II and lasted until 1954, a chapter in sports history immortalized in the 1992 movie A League of Their Own. Directed by Penny Marshall, the film starred Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie ODonnell. One exhibit area presents facts about the movie and behind-the-scenes tidbits. For sale in the museum gift shop are T-shirts inscribed Theres No Crying in Baseball, one of the greatest film quotes of all time .

The History Museum in South Bend has an excellent exhibit on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League , which entertained fans from 1943-1954.

The History Museum also sheds light on James D. Oliver, whose South Bend company earned the title Plowmakers to the World. By the 1880s, Olivers foundry was turning out one steel plow nearly every minute. By 1911 the plant employed 2,600 workers and had an annual capacity of 800,000 plows, which were sold throughout North America and overseas. The firm also made tractors, corn planters, cotton planters and other farming implements. A red-brick chimney bearing the word Oliver, a remnant of Olivers factory, still stands on the site, now the property of a brick-making plant.

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Car Museum On Our List

Who knew there was so much to learn about the studabaker ? It was a clean museum that had so much Information. Three floors with everything from the beginning to end of the era. So much to see in close proximity. The gift shop was exceptional! The guys inside had info on all the gifts, books and were so helpful.

Thanks for visiting come back anytime!

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We really enjoyed visiting the restored cars however, we just walked around and it would have been nice to have someone there in the auto museum to guide us and provide historical information.

Thanks for visiting. We will definitely take you comments considering tour guides into consideration!

We did the history museum the house tour and the studebaker museum. The history museum was fair, the house tour 2 hours was excellent and the studebaker was really good. All 3 took us 4 hours. Only thing to eat was a hot dog, pop ans chips. So pack a lunch in your car. A lot of things to see for $24.00. Don’t miss this gem

We are happy that you enjoyed your visit. Come back anytime!

Thanks for exploring all of Studebaker history. Come back anytime!

This museum has so much to offer to all ages. My husband and I look forward to our next visit, because there are so many interesting exhibits to take in. We could spend an hour or an afternoon.

We are so happy you enjoyed your visit. Come back anytime!

National Studebaker Museum Sights

This 1927 Studebaker Commander sedan set the all-time record for fastest cross-country commute when Ab Jenkins took it from New York to San Francisco in 77 hours. Looks comfy to me Id be willing to make that drive in this vehicle!

Im not sure Id feel quite so comfortable in this 1904 Studebaker:

Say hello to Fozzie Bear! This 1951 Studebaker Commander was one of two featured in the 1979 Muppet Movie. Thats Kermit riding shotgun.

These classic cars look sweet. Many of them still run and are taken out of the museum for appearances in the area from time to time.

Dont pretend that you wouldnt love to get behind the wheel of one of these classic cars!

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Visiting The South Bend Studebaker Museum

As of this writing, tickets for the Studebaker Museum coast $10 for adults. Seniors pay $8.50, students pay $6, and kids five and under are admitted free.

Guests can also buy a discount ticket package that includes admission to both the Studebaker Museum and the History Museum for $15.

The Studebaker Museum is open 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours are noon to 5 pm. The current facility opened in 2005 and currently houses seven items that are declared National Treasures, including that Lincoln carriage.

The National Studebaker Museum is a fascinating place. It definitely ranks as one of the best South Bend activities, and one of the coolest things to do in Indiana.

Speaking of cars, did you know South Bend is located on the longest road in America? U.S. Route 20 from Boston to Newport, Oregon passes right through the city.

What Is There To Do

Want to know a fun fact about the Studebaker National Museum? Well, did you know that it’s home to the world’s LARGEST collection of U.S Presidential Carriages?

How amazing is that? Yes, the Studebaker National Museum is ALL about those automobiles, so for those families who love history, engines, and very shiny cars, then this might just be the place for you!

The Mission of the Studebaker National Museum is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the rich industrial heritage of the South Bend area, through the display, interpretation, conservation and preservation of Studebaker vehicles, archives and other objects to enrich present and future generations.

In short? It will take you through the industrial history of South Bend with a VERY impressive collection of vintage vehicles!

The museum is intended to be a fitting memorial to men and women of our community whose vision, creativity, and energy built the products that are today our industrial manufacturing heritage.

Let’s start with the Presidential collection! Here you can see in person the Barouche that President Abraham Lincoln used the night of his assassination, President McKinley’s Studebaker Phaeton, President Benjamin Harrison’s Studebaker Broughman, and even President Grant Brewsters Landau!

Just imagine all of the history and stories that have happened in those very vehicles you are looking at. Amazing!

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Antique car museums in indiana. Also featured are vintage and current racing videos. Weve trully enjoyed meeting and seeing everyone over the years. Old cars only indiana car shows.

9 am 5 pm. Take in two floors of Full Classics including a number of Indiana-built cars at the official CCCA museum. Website features collections.

The Museum is Permanently Closed. It is dedicated to preserving cars museums in North America. Bedford Antique Auto and Race Car Museum.

Were open and our staff has taken great measures to make enjoying our world-class collection a safe healthy and family-friendly experience for our visitors. The museum features mostly post-World War II trucks and buses. Welcome to the AACA Museum Inc.

Everyone knows about the Petersen in LA. 161 Museum Dr Hershey PA 17033. See reviews photos directions phone numbers and more for Classic Car Museum locations in Indianapolis IN.

Antique Auto and Race Car Museum. Several Classic Studebakers are usually displayed among the many historic vehicles to be seen in this spacious recently renovated museum. Volo Museum Auto Sales Your Classic Car Dealer At Volo Museum Auto Sales we believe it shouldnt be a luxury to test drive and inspect a collector car before buying.

A Gift shop is available on the site. NATMUS or the National Automotive and Truck Museum is one of two major auto museums in Auburn Indiana which town was once a veritable center of American car production. Our remaining inventory is.

5634 Co Rd 11A.

Studebaker National Car Museum: South Bend Indiana

The Studebaker National Car Museum in South Bend, Indiana is a hidden gem in the Midwest.

*I was a guest of South Bend, Indiana tourism and did receive complimentary admission to this museum. As always, opinions are 100% mine and nobody elses.*

On a recent visit, I came across cars that reflected history, nostalgia, and even a car from my hometown. This car was a gift from Mr. Tom Ramaekers of Mason City, Iowa. Finding a car from my hometown was extremely cool! I consider this to be one of my all-time favorite travel finds.

I could have easily spent two more hours in this museum alone, as the collections seemed to get better and better as I strolled through the museum.

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Celebrating 60 Years Of The Studebaker Avanti

Save the Date!June 5, 2022

JOIN us at the LeMay Americas Car Museum on for a special 60th Anniversary Celebration of the 1963 Studebaker Avanti! Special parking on the Museums plaza will be provided to all Studebaker Avantis! . We will have Avanti 1001 on display for you to see and enjoy up close!

The First Production Studebaker Avanti leaving for South Bend, Indiana for The Concours dElegance at Copshaholm and will be on featured display at the Studebaker National Museums exhibition of The Avanti: Americas Most Advanced Automobile through October 2022.

Americas Car Museums 1963 Studebaker Avanti #63R1001 the first production Avanti built by Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana.

1963 Studebaker Avanti #1001 as it looked while undergoing restoration to remove the green sparkle paint.

This car is Number 62R 1001 with matching supercharged engine number R1002, and is the first production Avanti made by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana.

1963 Studebaker Avanti #63R 1001 data

1963 Studebaker Avanti 1001 order sheet obtained from the Studebaker National Museum Archives

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This museum is a decent way to spend a bit of time. The downstairs portion was more interesting to me, with the highlight being a room about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The rest of the area includes a few historical exhibits, a bunch of objects made in the area, and then another group ordered by function. Some on the main level included wedding dresses, international ties at Notre Dame, and various letters, which Im sure someone else would enjoy but wasnt for me. Not bad for a little museum.

Nice museum. Ticket prices are probably a couple bucks more expensive that the entertainment value, but it’s still something to kill some time. The got some neat vehicles and local history stuff, but you won’t get into the mansion with your Ticket. Wish they would have mentioned that. Not bad though

We really enjoyed our trip here. I’ve lived in the area my entire life, but I learned a lot about South Bend when we visited. We’ll be back soon.

Oliver MansionHighly recommend for insights of early living and family life into one of the pioneers in the area… read more

Wonderfully Maintained Original House The museum was interesting, especially enjoyed the women’s baseball league exhibit. The real gem was the house tour. We had a excellent docent and our tour was about 2 hours long. She did a great job answering questions.

beautiful grounds.This was a nice museum of local history. Walk at your own pace, many artifacts and a natural… read more

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The Great Race Makes Lunchtime Stop At Museums

SOUTH BEND The Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum serve as a lunch checkpoint for The Great Race on June 22 at 201 Chapin St.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m., with a Studebaker Hawk, announcers will greet every car as it arrives, providing spectators information about the car and the driver/navigator team.

This years race began in Warwick, R.I., on June 18 and ends in Fargo, N.D., on June 26. The nine-day, 2,300-mile adventure will travel to 19 cities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.

The race includes more than 150 teams and cars from Japan, England, Australia, Germany, Canada and every corner of the United States. The vintage automobiles date from 1916, and all cars had to be built in or before 1974.

The Great Race is not a speed race but a time/speed/distance rally. Each driver and navigator are given precise instructions each day that detail every move down to the second. They are scored at secret check points along the way and are penalized one second for each second either early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins.

Tom McRae started the event in 1983, and it takes its name from the 1965 comedy The Great Race, which starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood and Peter Falk.

The event last stopped in South Bend in 1994.

Admission is free. To view exhibits in the Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum, attendees may purchase a campus ticket for $16-$9.

The Studebaker Spirit Is Alive And Well

The closing in 1963 of Studebaker Corporations South Bend plant resulted in the loss of nearly 7,000 jobs. The brands spirit, however, lives on not only in the car club and Studebaker museum but in places around town. A street, golf course and school bear the companys name, as does a brewery.

A block from the museum, you can dine in style at Tippecanoe Place, a restaurant that occupies the 1889 mansion of Clement Studebaker, who, with his brother Henry in 1852, founded the company that started as a blacksmith shop and went on to become the largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles in the world. They entered the automobile business in 1902 and by 1913 had become Americas third-largest car manufacturer. Studebaker closed for good when it shuttered its Hamilton, Ontario plant, which produced a compact line until 1966.

Tippecanoe Place, a favorite special-occasion restaurant, resembles a medieval castle with its massive stone walls, turrets and irregular roofs. Chandeliers, a grand staircase, and marble and onyx fireplaces, along with intricately carved oak and mahogany, provide elegant surroundings. Menu items include shrimp cocktail, steaks, rack of lamb and duckling with almond amaretto sauce. Craft beer fans flock to Studebaker Brewing Companys third-floor lounge, which serves sandwiches, soups and salads.

The 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk, on display at the Studebaker National Museum, was priced at $3,095 new.

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