studebaker national museum

My grandfather drove a Studebaker Turtle so I was interested in learning the history of Studebaker. What I found was Studebaker was so far ahead of their time their customers could not understand what they were buying. I enjoyed seeing the progression of the different models. In the basement they had more cars/trucks that they could switch out so the museum is ever evolving. I especially liked their war efforts for the 2nd world war....

The Studebaker National Museum does a great job of telling the story of the now defunct Studebaker auto brand. On our south east road trip we visited the Tupelo Automobile Museum, a very impressive collection of antique autos, but nothing fancy, the cars are on display in a very large garage just parked in rows. On our recent mid west road trip we stopped at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, as well as the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan. Both of these museums have very nice displays built around the autos that give you a feel for the era of the auto you are viewing. There are also displays such as the presidential horse drawn carriages made by Studebaker that go beyond the realm of transportation and illustrate an interesting time in American history.I was not sure what to expect from a museum that specialized in one auto brand that has been out of business for decades. I was very pleasantly surprised. The Studebaker National Museum was a great history lesson and a fun experience.If you enjoy antique autos or learning a bit about American history the Studebaker National Museum is highly recommended and you might also check out the Gilmore Car Museum just north of South Bend in Hickory Corners, Michigan.

This is a great place to take your kids to help them grasp 'local history' and it's impact on history overall, not just nationally, but internationally, as well. They get to see some cool cars and learn about the car itself and it's place in the history of the auto industry and the U.S...There are stars' cars, historically significant cars and a lot of other things that will be of interest and fun for kids...the Oliver Mansion is also a great time.

The layout of the museum is great and welcoming. From the entry area through the history walk and exiting, the visitor will have a great time.

Museum is free, well maintained, and if you like cars just don't miss this! Cafe available looked very nice.

Discover the history of transportation! See a Conestoga wagon, Presidential carriages (including Abraham Lincoln's), trucks, cars, and army vehicles! The museum's size is great for families with grade school or younger children and senior citizens! Also visit the Center of History with a tour of the 38 room Oliver Mansion of 1897.

Parents were in from out of town visiting and we decided to check out the museum for our first time. What a pleasant surprise. The museum was very well laid out and had a lot of very nice exhibits many of which brought back nice memories for my parents. We all learned a lots about the history and never realized how much influence this company had on modes of transportation. A must see when you are in the area and need something fun to do.

This is a very fun museum. They have rearranged things and there is more to see. Sometimes there are activities. I have rented out a room for birthday parties when the kids were young. A good variety of cars, pictures, history, documents of the Studebakers. They played a large part in the development of South Bend. Many people from Europe came to our city because of advertisements Studebaker put in foreign newspapers! Well worth a visit.

It is inexpensive for a family rainy day outing. So much to see with great variety, (Studebaker's, motorcycles, WW1, A League of Their Own, and more). 12/27/2014

Impressive collection of historic carriages and cars. By the time I got to the "last Studebaker," I was not only engaged but even a little sad. Definitely worth a visit! Don't miss Abraham Lincoln's carriage that was his last ride to the Ford Theatre.

Toured the huge museum and the Oliver Mansion which is on the grounds and has everything in it original to 1896 when it was built. The 38 room mansion can be toured along with admission to the Studebaker Museum for a very low combination price. Senior citizens get a NICE discount too! Both the Museum and Mansion are well worth touring.

Ditto to all the great reviews of this wonderful museum. It’s not just about automotive history but also a great story of how a business evolved and survived for well over 100 years and how businesses and individuals had to adapt during the World Wars. At the time of this writing there is an impressive World War 1 exhibit that does not sugarcoat the horrors of the conflict. Above all as I experienced the museum I kept on wondering how this place was made possible in the first place. The capital needed to build and stock this beautiful building is substantial, as is the ongoing overhead to keep it operational; it is a tribute to its donors and volunteers that make this place possible.I came to this place because of my infatuation with the Studebaker Hawk, truly one of the coolest cars of the 50’s and 60’s, but came away with so much more. It’s well worth going out of your way for a chance to experience this very special place!

Enjoyed looking at all the cars and learning about the history of the car industry in Indiana. Managed to take pics sitting in one of the cars :)

This is a great place to learn a bit about local history. You can see the pprogression of the Studebaker wagons to cars and how the city of South bend grew around this production. If you do not enjoy history or cars, this is not the place for you.

You don't have to like cars to like this place. Very well done, great lighting, fabulous vehicles. Really special. Very friendly folks helping out. Highly recommended. Plan to spend at least an hour here.