The city of Elkhart is home to an unusually wide variety of museums, a truly unique feature for a city of its size. From art to transportation and from the traditional to the unusual, you'll find the museums of Elkhart to be a fascinating look at the diverse history of the area. You may be surprised at the unique, one-of-a-kind artifacts and displays that will draw you back for another look at all the things you missed the first time!
Elkhart County Historical Museum
304 W. Vistula St. (S.R. 120) Bristol, IN 46507
574-848-4322 · http://www.elkhartcountyparks.org/ · echm@juno.com
This museum contains more than 20,000 artifacts, a working genealogy library, and an archive containing government and business records, offering visitors a firsthand account of what life was like for those who settled the area that would become Elkhart County. Various displays including historical themes and time periods such a Victorian row house, a one-room school, a rain depot, a general store, a dentist, a barber, a pharmacy, a tool room and Native American artifacts bring history to life. The building itself, now known as the Rush Memorial Center, is on the National Register of Historical Places.
Midwest Museum of American Art
429 South Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
574-293-6660 · http://www.midwesternmuseum.us/ · mdwstmsmam@aol.com
Elkhart is home to an outstanding art museum, the Midwest Museum of American Art. Founded in 1979, the museum has more than 2,500 works in its permanent collection, with at least 200 on display at any one time. The collection consists of paintings, prints, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, and photographs of significance in the history of American art. George Luks, Robert Henri, Norman Rockwell, Grant Wood, Grandma Moses, and Thomas Sully are but a few of the noteworthy artists represented here. In addition to its permanent collection, the Midwest Museum offers eight to ten stimulating temporary shows each year.
National New York Central Railroad Museum
721 South Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
574-294-3001 · http://www.nycrrmuseum.org/ · info@nycrrmuseum.org
All aboard the National New York Central Railroad Museum for a look at railroading history that's right on track. Exhibits take visitors through the creation of the New York Central, Penn Central, Amtrak and Conrail railroads. Adjacent to tracks now controlled by Norfolk Southern and the former main line of the New York Central, the museum lies next to some of the busiest railroad traffic in America. A visit to this museum is a journey to a time when our country was in a period of great growth. Trains like the 20th Century Limited were symbols of that progress and vitality. Hands-on exhibits, toy trains and full-size locomotives and rolling stock bring railroad history to life. Exhibits include three locomotives in the process of restoration, an extensive collection of memorabilia from New York Central stations and rail cars, and videos of trains in action. Whether you step into the cab of a diesel locomotive, build a railroad track, or blow the whistle of a steam locomotive, a visit to this museum lets you take a journey into the past.
RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum
810 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46518
574-293-2344 · http://www.rv-mh-hall-of-fame.org/
Northern Indiana, and specifically, the greater Elkhart area is known as the birthplace of the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing industries. It is certainly fitting that the Recreational Vehicle and Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame would find it's home here, honoring these industries' heritage and the people who virtually built them over the years. From early camping trailers of the 1930s to modern recreational vehicles with virtually all the comforts of home, to the tiny workshops and garages of the past to the multi-billion dollar industries of today, you'll see what made the Elkhart area so well known for these businesses - all under one roof. Dating back to 1913, exhibits include camping vehicles and accessories, historic advertising, RV/MH publications, and a photographic collection covering the history of both industries.
Ruthmere Museum302 E. Beardsley St., Elkhart, IN 46514
574-264-0330 ·
http://www.ruthmere.org/ ·
info@ruthmere.orgArt lovers, history buffs, and antique enthusiasts won't want to miss a visit to Ruthmere, Elkhart's elegant Beaux Arts mansion. This jewel of a house sits above the confluence of the St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The three-story brick and limestone home is accented with Italian marble, carved stone, and eclectic Prairie School elements, including stained glass.
Ruthmere was built by leading Elkhart citizens Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley in 1908, and named for their only child, Ruth, who died in infancy. The meticulous restoration of silk wall coverings, elaborate silk and lace window treatments, hand painted ceilings and murals provide an unforgettable setting for Ruthmere's collection of fine and decorative arts.
Hourly guided tours interpret life in the house during a bygone era, explore the restoration of Ruthmere, and offer highlights of Ruthmere's significant collections. Among these are important works of 19th century and 20th century American art, a French sculpture collection, three vintage automobiles, and an arts reference library. Visitors will enjoy a stop in Ruthmere's museum shop, where treasures to take home reflect the museum's educational mission.
Located at 302 East Beardsley Avenue in Elkhart
Guided on-the-hour tours
Tuesday-Saturday 10-3 (no noon tour) & Sunday 1-3
"Time Was" Museum
125-A North Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
574-293-6005
Time Was offers another glimpse into history. This unusual museum, housed in two old-fashioned apartments above a circa-1899 retail building, provides a unique retrospective regarding a vital, ever-changing city. Focusing on Elkhart's community life, the collection includes hundreds of vintage photographs, including special events, news pictures, and aerials. The museum also houses local newspapers, high school yearbooks from 1900, city directories from 1869, industrial publications and advertising memorabilia.
Woodlawn Nature Center
604 Woodlawn Ave, Elkhart, IN 46515
574-264-0525
Not all museums have to be indoors. The Woodlawn Nature Center provides an excellent opportunity to view wildlife while encouraging environmental responsibility. Located on the north edge of Elkhart, Woodlawn Nature Center is a non-profit natural history museum with approximately 10 acres of woodland trails. The center is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of flora and fauna native to Indiana through hands-on education of those with an interest in nature and the environment. The center also includes an interesting collection of Native American tools, clothing and artifacts; a seasonal working beehive; mastodon fossils that give a glimpse into the ice age; a seashell display; a wildlife viewing window; and a Wetlands Wonder Room.
