Studebaker National Museum
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The Studebaker National Museum is a museum in South Bend, Indiana, USA that displays a variety of automobiles, wagons, carriages, and military vehicles related to the Studebaker Corporation and other aspects of American history.
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[edit] Layout
The Studebaker National Museum is connected to and shares an entrance with the Northern Indiana Center for History. Visitors can purchase a ticket to visit one or both museums.
The Studebaker museum consists of three floors. The main level displays Studebaker history and vehicles from the 1800s to 1934. The upper level displays vehicles from 1934 onward. The lower level displays military vehicles and equipment and additional vehicles in "viewable storage" (stacked on lifts but still viewable). A secondary area on the main level displays family history of the Studebakers and the Olivers, South Bend makers of the Oliver Chilled Plow and other farm equipment.
[edit] The collection
Most of the museum's collection was part of the historic company's collection, although vehicles continue to be added from time to time. It includes more than 70 vehicles and numerous photos and displays as well as huge archive of photos and documents not on display. Although the collection focuses on the century-long history of the Studebaker corporation and the wagons, cars, trucks, and military vehicles it produced, the collection also includes a variety of other vehicles and products made locally.
Highlights of the collection include:
- A broad variety of Studebaker production vehicles and concept cars
- Some Packard production and concept cars, reflecting Studebaker's merger with Packard
- The carriage that Studebaker built for President Abraham Lincoln, along with the carriages of several other U.S. presidents and dignitaries
- A Studebaker Conestoga wagon of the sort used by pioneers to cross the Great Plains
- A 1902 Studebaker Electric
- Studebaker military vehicles built during World War I and World War II
- Several Hummer vehicles including the HUMMWV (Humm-vee), which are manufactured by South Bend-based AM General at its plant in the adjacent city of Mishawaka, Indiana
[edit] Location
In November 2005, the museum opened a new building on Chapin Street, attached to the Northern Indiana Center for History. The new building for the museum was designed on the architecture styling of many of the older Studebaker factory buildings in the area.
[edit] Trivia
- The previous building used for many years by the museum was at one time a Studebaker dealership.
- The museum also holds an annual "golf classic" in South Bend.
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