The museums share a building, an entry door, an admissions desk and a discounted price on combination tickets. Both are good museums and worth a visit. They can be seen in one visit.
In 1736 the Studebaker family emigrated from Holland to Maryland where Peter Studebaker built a wagon factory and an iron forge. Sons, grandsons and great-grandsons followed in the family business, buying land and building own their factories. Five great- grandsons moved to South Bend, Indiana and, just a few years before the start of the Civil War, won a bid on a contract to build wagons for the US Army. Soon their wagon factory was booming. They also made freight wagons, farm wagons, and all types of horse drawn carriages.
WWI brought another large order. 3,000 transport wagons were shipped to Britain but by 1919 the company had switched to building cars, trucks, buses and fire engines. The depression of the 1930s, high labor costs and a price war in the 1950s between Ford and General Motors took a toll on the company. The last car rolled off the South Bend assembly line on December 20 1963.
Wagons, cars, trucks, military vehicles and a good assortment of concept cars are displayed on three floors of the museum. The nucleus of the museum collection incudes 33 vehicles donated by the Studebaker Corporation - the earliest vehicle is a Conestoga Wagon built and used by the Studebakers.
The History Museum includes the museum and tours of the Oliver Mansion and the Worker’s Home. The museum exhibits touch on Native American history, the founding of South Bend, draining the land for farms, the Underground Railroad, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and the growth of industries.
The Studebaker Museum is accessible. The History Museum is accessible except for a few exhibits that are too high. The houses have steps and are not accessible.
RVs will fit in the lot if backed up over the grass. Longer RVs can be parked in the alley next to the lots. Studebaker Museum History Museum
That Studebaker Museum looks like a real find. I didn't know any of the details, so thanks for sharing. We'll put this one on our list!
ReplyDeleteThe family history is very interesting as are the concept cars.
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