Imagine yourself surrounded with several vintage cars that you have only seen on the televisions. But now the question appears – is it possible? And the answer is Yes, it is definitely possible in the Studebaker National Museum.
This museum is popular among automotive enthusiasts and is a top rated local tourist attraction. As it showcases a wide range of automobiles, wagons, carriages and military vehicles. It is situated in South Bend, Indiana, US. Along with this you can also visit other nearby attractions in the city. And have various fine dining restaurants for a perfect meal of your day. The museum also offers a guided tour for all the visitors so that you can get to know all about the cars and the museum. The museum provides you with unique and grateful displays of the cars in front of your eye. Also it organizes some events yearly, where they display the rare cars which you haven’t ever seen in the real world.
On this page, you will get all the information regarding the tour to the museum. Everything about the things to do, where to eat, nearby attractions and much more about the museum.
History of Studebaker National Museum
Studebaker was founded in the 18th century by Henry and Clement Studebaker as a Wagon manufacturer in South Bend. Then in 1902, the company started producing automobiles and becoming one of the largest businesses in South Bend. But in 1963, due to some financial problems raised in the 1950s and could not be overcome, the company closed. After this, Studebaker corporation donated all their collection to the city of South Bend and in 2005, the ultra modern museum was opened for the public. Now, the museum is connected to the history museum, which is a part of the museums situated in Washington and Chapin. Where you can have the option to buy a ticket to visit any of the two museums or both.
Top Things to Do at Studebaker National Museum
There are multiple things to do at Studebaker National Museum. Whether it’s visiting the iconic exhibits, children’s museums or getting knowledge about the automotive industry. Here are some of the few things you can do at the museum.
Visit Presidential Carriages Exhibit
The museum is a home to the world’s largest collection of U.S. Presidential Carriages. Others in the collection include carriage used by Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison. Since it was introduced in 1927, the president has been considered Studebaker’s top model. This exhibit includes only models considered as ‘full classics’ by the Classic car of America.
Discover Interactive Exhibits
There are multiple exhibits in the museum. Like, the Studebaker Service Center, which is a fun and interactive exhibit that is designed for children of all ages. A Touchy Subject, this exhibit explores the effects of human touch on a variety of car materials. And more exhibits are available in the museum. All of them allow visitors to get a feel for what it was like to work in a Studebaker factory.
Learn About Automotive Innovation
Studebaker was once one of the biggest names in the Automotive industry & manufacturing cars for over 100 years. In the museum you will get to know about the innovation of automation of cars. That goes on to hike like the Ford Mustang, which is the economy of a Volkswagens. Not only this, you will get to know about all other innovations of the cars.
Enjoy the Guided Tour
If possible, try to take a guided tour at the museum. As this will help you to get more information about the old vintage cars design and technology. Not only about the cars, you can also visit the other interactive exhibits and places to know about them. If you are looking for a place to have your club’s car rally, meet, convention then you can also get to know about them. The South Bend’s Century Center is a perfect venue as the center has successfully hosted car club conventions. That includes swap space, memorabilia shows, and breakout space for meetings and banquets.
Visitor Information & Travel Tips
Before getting to the museum, here are some tips regarding the entry fee, opening hours and all other basic details.
Basic Information
- Before getting towards the museum, it’s recommended to wear comfy clothes and especially comfy shows as you will be going to do a fair amount of walking, and standing also.
- Engage with the staff, the museum staff and volunteers are there to answer all your questions and share their knowledge with you.
- Don’t forget to capture amazing photos of the cars, as photography is generally allowed, but for personal use only.
- If you have also planned to visit the adjacent History Museum as well then budget for a full half-day or more.
Tickets and Entry Fee
To enter the museum, the ticket prices are different for all age groups. The museum members and the children of age 5 and below the entry is free of cost. For the children of age group 6-17 the ticket price is $7. For the senior citizens of age 61+ the age is $9. And, for all the adults it’s $11.
Ideal time to visit the museum
Season wise, Summer is popular to visit as it organizes special car club events or club zone meets. During these events you will also get a chance to see the additional rare vehicles on display. Also, Spring and Fall are a good time as the temperature is mild in south bend at this time which allows for easy travel with pleasant weather. And, Winter is usually less crowded, even quieter in the Museum.
Nearby Attractions at South Bend
Apart from the Studebaker National Museum, you can also visit the multiple attractions near South Bend. Some of those are:
Potawatomi Zoo
This is Indiana’s first zoo and was established in 1902 as a duck pond at Leeper Park. And now it’s a home to over 400 animals, here you see animals including big cats, Amur tigers, African lions, and more. Don’t forget to visit the farm area. Because, there you can feed goats and alpacas, watch the North American river otter glide under water. Hop on the zoo train and before you leave, take a ride on the hand crafted and hand painted endangered species carousel. The zoo gates are open from April to October, with many special events along the way.
South Bend Chocolate Company
Inside the company, walk towards the factory floor to see and learn how workers make the best chocolates. Also visit the Chocolate Cafe inside the Adventure atrium that offers a stop for a quick coffee, light lunch, icecream, and world best hot chocolate. The factory and cafe opens all days a week from 9AM to 5PM.
The History Museum
An iconic museum with original furnishing and stunning woodwork. The museum physically connects to the Studebaker National Museum, therefore you can visit two museums at one place. It also includes a children’s museum, a gallery of Notre Dame history and an exhibit that chronicles the history of the St. Joseph River Valley. The opening time of the museum is from 1-am to 5pm and you will need at least 2-3 hours to explore it. And, free parking for the visitors is located adjacent to the front entrance.
Food and Dining Options nearby South Bends
The Early Bird Eatery
A modern restaurant known for its breakfast and brunch meals. It offers a huge variety of options for the cuisines like french toast, crispy bacon, pancakes and more. The restaurant is a family friendly place where you can enjoy your meal with great services. Its timing is from 8AM to 2PM and is within a distance of 0.5 miles from the museum.
Cafe Navanne
A restaurant housed in the most attractive building of downtown South Bend’s. Offering a wide variety of food including dishes , deserts and drinks. Also, for any special event or business meeting the cafe provides private rooms. And those rooms can seat up to 20 guests in each private meeting room. Opening time for breakfast or lunch is 11AM to 2PM and for dinner it’s 4PM to 10PM.
Center Stage Pizza
This restaurant is a great place for all the pizza lovers. As it offers a casual lunch and dining options with a New York style pizza. Specialty of this restaurant is its Taco pizza and Desert pizza. And also provide music and movie night facilities for the guests. The timing is from 12PM to 9PM everyday except Monday.
Why should you visit Studebaker National Museum?
The museum is a great place to visit, not just for car lovers, but for families, history buffs and tourists also. It is easily accessible for those visiting the city or just passing through. The Studebaker museum is going to be one of the fondest memories you will have from your visit to South Bend and living in the Chicago area. There are multiple things to do at Studebaker National Museum. Also it boasts an impressive collection of cars, traveling exhibits, and the largest presidential carriage collection anywhere.
One important thing, if you are looking for research for the Studebaker, the museum offers a number of great resources. And, if you would like to purchase some of their engineering drawings, you can buy them and make them into different sizes.
Conclusion
The Studebaker National Museum is one of the top rated car museums. Whether you are a classic car lover or simply looking for a family friendly museum in south bend, this museum is the one you should visit. Here, you are going to enjoy the multiple interactive exhibits and attractions around the museum with fantastic nearby restaurants. This is a huge Museum and gives you a live view of the iconic vintage cars. Therefore, visiting this place is not gonna be a wrong decision.