Truly this little museum was well-done and felt way more personal than the big national museums…read more The guys who work here were all very knowledgable and happy to share all kinds of tidbits about the displays with us. The park outside was cool and we enjoyed the special planes and aircraft in their collection here. This museum is also a Harvest Host.Grissom Air Museum in Peru, IN. We stayed in the parking lot which had 2 entrances, so an easy pull-through with our travel trailer and was mostly flat. A large 5th wheel also stayed the night and there was plenty of room for both of us. It is easy off-on IN Highway 31. There is some highway noise, but it died down in the evening and we slept well. It felt safe, maybe the proximity to the Air Base helped with that feeling. And we loved having the views of the aircraft displays out of our camper windows. We did patronize the Grissom Air Museum. Truly the little museum was well-done and felt way more personal than a big national museum. The guys who work here were all very knowlegable and happy to share all kinds of tidbits about the displays with us. The walk-through park outside was cool and we enjoyed the special planes and aircraft in their collection here.

It has a diverse collection of aircraft and a great value for the price! Definitely recommend…read morevisiting if you're in the area

I absolutely loved my trip to the Seiberling at Christmas! I found it to be one of my favorite…read moreChristmas experiences so far. Every square inch is decorated. There are 3 floors to this historic mansion to explore for only $10. The architecture is amazing. I got a lot of pictures here. It was worth the hour drive to Kokomo from Indy. Staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful as well.

Kokomo, Indiana's Seiberling Mansion is a rather sublime sight to see during the holiday season…read more Serving as home for the Howard County Historical Society, the Seiberling Mansion was completed in 1891 and owned by Monroe Seiberling. Seiberling was an industrialist and entrepreneur who arrived in Kokomo alongside the late 19th century gas boom. He became wealthy, built several factories in the area, and followed all this up by building a rather remarkable mansion. Subsequent owners included Orange Darby, Rev. William Parr (namesake for Parr Methodist Church), real estate developer Franklin Miller, and George Kingston. Kingston was an inventor who invented the carburetor used in Henry Ford's Model T. When Kingston passed away in 1946, Indiana University bought the home and used it as the home of IU-Kokomo until 1964. For several years, the mansion remained empty. Finally, Howard County began looking for a way to move the county museum out of the courthouse. This ended up being a perfect arrangement and IU signed a long-term agreement to turn over the property for use as a museum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, the Seiberling Mansion has both a Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival style. The house has three stories - eight rooms on the first floor, seven on the second floor, and a grand ballroom on the third floor. Parking is free. The parking lot entrance is behind the museum off West Walnut street. The front door is the main entrance, though the accessible entrance is at the rear of the house. It's important to note that only the first floor is actually accessible (there's no elevator), though there is a virtual video available on the first floor for the second and third floors. There are public restrooms on the first and second floors, though it should also be noted these are not wheelchair accessible. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-4pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for K-12, and free for under age 5. The museum is a Blue Star Museum - this means active military and family members get in free from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They do have periods when they close - so checking their website is always a good idea just to be sure. The Seiberling Mansion can be rented for a maximum of 25 people. Rental rates on the website. The adjacent Elliott House is also available. While I always lament not having full access to places, with historic locations it's understandable and expected that access isn't going to be perfect. This is beautiful to see, though I'm not sure I can give it a full thumbs up for those with mobility issues since entry is $10 and you really only get to access one of three floors. That said, the virtual tour is pretty cool and the building itself is wonderful.

I stumbled across the Elwood Haynes Museum while traveling on my recent Tenderness Tour in the…read moreKokomo area. While I'd heard about the museum before, I knew very little about it and I can honestly say that visiting it wasn't on my itinerary for my Kokomo visit until we happened to drive by it while searching for our evening dining location. The Elwood Haynes Museum is located in the mansion owned by Elwood Haynes, a Kokomo-based inventor credited with multiple firsts including being the first to produce cars commercially back in 1894. He lived in Kokomo until his death in 1925. Haynes also invented stainless steel. Seriously. Being that the Elwood Haynes Museum was actually a residence, you might guess that wheelchair access is kind of an issue. It definitely is kind of an issue, though kudos must be given for efforts to make the mansion as accessible as possible. You go up a rather narrow, somewhat steep driveway and park in the back of the house. If you have a high vehicle or an RV type vehicle, the odds you're going to achieve this are slim to none. There's only a few parking spots, a likely indicator that visits to the museum tend to be in smaller groups. The guide who was present for our visit acknowledged that the vast majority of visitors are out of towners rather than locals, though they do host local student groups. They've concocted a rather large, wooden ramp designed to provide wheelchair access. It likely meets ADA requirements in terms of grade, though be aware the wood itself feels a little flimsy. For those with limited range of motion or upper body strength, it may be advised to have a companion or assistant with you. You then enter via a side door that leads to your standard residential hallway. As this was a turn of the 19th century house, you can easily guess that hallways are rather narrow. I had zero issues moving into each room on the first floor - a bathroom on the first floor is largely wheelchair friendly with appropriate rails. The second floor would not be accessible to a wheelchair user, while the third floor, a small area, is not open to the public. They also have a basement area that is not open to the public. There's also an attached carriage house that had three of Haynes's vehicles within it along with a safe that had been created from the materials he invented. The Elwood Haynes Museum really is rather fascinating, though it's a rather quick view with a maximum of 1-2 hours needed to enjoy the entire museum. Admission is free, though donations are welcomed and somewhat encouraged in a low pressure sort of way. The exhibit, in addition to the vehicles, includes a wealth of photos, documents, inventions and other items related to Haynes, a figure who contributed greatly to modern motoring yet remains relatively unknown when compared to many others. The volunteer who was present was friendly and knowledgeable about Haynes's history and worked at a comfortable pace in explaining the museum. This was definitely an unexpected gem during my time in Kokomo.

For history buffs, or car buffs, or fans of invention, this is a "must stop" place to visit while…read morein Kokomo. The home of Elwood Haynes is partly a time capsule showing the Haynes residence and all those wonderful antiques you might expect. The other part of the building is the museum tribute to Mr Haynes and some of the other famous inventors/inventions of Kokomo. I hadn't done any research before going, so I was surprised to learn how many incredible inventions were created/discovered by Haynes. What is most commonly related to is that Haynes designed, funded the building of, and drove the first commercially built auto in the country! Local inventors (The Apperson Brothers) owned a shop and were paid by Haynes to build the frame and moving parts of the first auto after Haynes had bought a one horsepower engine that ran on gasoline. At that time, gasoline was considered a waste product from natural gas production and it was another of Haynes' inventions that made gasoline more usable as a fuel. On July 4, 1994, Haynes successfully drove his vehicle for an hour, covering about six miles. But that was just some of what this man accomplished. He discovered a means for making brass at the age of 15. He also invented the small thermostat that is used to regulate home temperature. He also created numerous alloys, including stainless steel and Stellite (used in blading small turbines and numerous other tools/equipment that should not rust.) The museum shows photos throughout the building from Haynes' life. Upstairs, the rooms are not maintained as living spaces, but rather, as tributes to the other inventors and "firsts" that Kokomo is known for. You will see exhibits about the Appersons, the first pneumatic rubber tire, first carburetor, lots of Delco radio inventions, and even some canning innovations. And of course, there are lots of exhibits about alloys and their uses. The staff is friendly and goes the extra mile to make sure you have all the information you desire. Note: Although the garage is off limits, you can still see three of the first cars produced in Kokomo through the windows. Review #2486

A sweet little gem of a museum. Pressed glass was made in and near Greentown all around the turn of…read morethe century in 1900 and this museum highlights the indiana Goblet and Glass Company. Many fine and very rare examples of pressed glass as well as artifacts from the factory are on display. The docent is very knowledgable about glass in general and Greentown's factory in particular. As of October 2012 the museum is open in the afternoons. Worth the short drive from Kokomo for antique pressed glass admirers because of the collection and the background information on manufactoring.

Had no idea about the history of Circuses wintering in Peru. Outstanding collection of memorabilia…read moreand artifacts. It's great that some of the original buildings have survived. As a volunteer at a Museum where restoration is constantly occurring, I appreciate the work that these volunteers are doing. Of course there are pieces that are not yet restored, but they are always working on them and most importantly, they are saved. Doesn't matter if they get restored in 5 or 10 or 50 years. If it wasn't for the effort of the volunteers, these pieces would be lost to history forever. THANK YOU for that!!! For our visit, the regular tour guide was away, so we had her husband take us on the tour. He had mobility issues, but soldiered through to give us the full experience. We greatly appreciate your dedication to your visitors!! HINT: The office in front is not where you check in. Drive or walk down the gravel road just before the office - that's where the Gift Shop/Entrance is.

When you drive into Peru, (be it from Indy or Chicago or...Toledo?) don't think much about where…read moreyou're going or what in the world it could look like...because inevitably...you'll think big circus tent, lions, tigers, a man roaming the perimeter on a unicycle. In reality though...a man might be roaming the perimeter...so beware. It's more haunted circus than circus museum or Hall of Fame. BUT, Wait, Wait, Wait! You're getting the wrong idea...still go! Yes, doesn't a haunted circus call for more adventure and less asking yourself "why did I go to Peru?" once leaving than would a traditional Circus Hall of Fame. C'mon. It's like having the circus off-season in Florida in your Indiana back yard! Speaking of off-season...when I was there in August...a man from Texas was passing through (apparently "working the State Fair circuit" which is glorious to hear in person) and this Texan brought along Tigers and Elephants. Really. There they were...elephants in the Hoosier farmlands...roaming amongst antique circus wagons (as seen in Big Fish, which the owner won't let you forget). In a strange way...if someone asked where to go to get the real Indiana, the Indiana I would want people to know about: the Circus Museum & Hall of Fame is on the list. This comes from a kid who didn't like the circus and a man who doesn't like the circus (you know...taser-ing animals...caging animals...laughing at animals...) The folks that run the place aren't interested in you being there. Or it seems that way...so be prepared to twist their arm to figure out what's going on...but really, they don't have answers. What they do have though...is a key to their Gift Shop that's closed and grown-over. Ask them to open it and buy a tee shirt -- they're beautiful.

Great facility. Beautifully envisioned and executed…read more Watching the Huey's, flying the Huey's and joining in a reunion of pilots is therapeutic to all these Viet Nam Veterans. - Thank you Johnny and Kay Walker

This small town museum has big city appeal. The museum is modern, upscale, informative and has a…read moregreat space for kids. We stopped by to learn some local history about the courthouse. There is a $5 admission fee with discounts for seniors and kids. The first floor contains local artifacts and information on local history. We learned about Honeywell, the Wabash Cannonball and much more. I found information on the Courthouse. The second floor hosts an interactive learning center and a play area for kids. Boisterous toddlers were having fun playing. A wall of displays holds information about influential local figures. A manager, Cody, was engaging and gave us an area guide with a County map and told us about the origins of the Museum. The staff is friendly. A conference room is available on the first floor. There is a small gift area with books, shirts and other Wabash gift merchandise. The museum sponsors events throughout the month. An EV charging station is available out front and lots of free parking. This is one of the nicest local museums that we've visited in Indiana and was worth the stop. Plan about two hours to visit (and longer if you bring kids). Museum memberships are available.

From the owner: The Wabash County Museum is proud to propagate local history through preservation, education, and…read moreinnovation and to inspire wonder in our past and foster cultural understanding today and in the future. ​We use state-of-the-art exhibits and engaging programming to introduce guests to the rich history of this one-of-a-kind county. Focused on family-friendly programming, the Museum offers an extensive educational area for children including The Bear Den by Beacon, the Dr. Brush Invention Emporium, an iSandbox, and more.​Annually, the Museum welcomes thousands of members, guests, tourists, and school children through our doors. The Wabash County Museum is a not-for-profit, operating entirely through memberships, admissions, and private donations.

My husband and I went to the Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art on a day when the mansion was…read moreclosed. It was the only time that we could fit it into our schedule. Why bother visiting if the mansion is closed, you ask. There is a cute sculpture garden behind the mansion that is open even when the mansion is closed. There are close to 30 sculptures. It is really fun to take a walk through the garden and see the statues. It will give you something to talk about and plenty of photo opportunities. If the outside is this fun, I can't wait to see the inside!

Neat place! In the 60's grew up in Lafayette, running past…read morethis house on the way to the Brodsky house. So to me, this house will always be Potter's Mansion, the owners prior to the Haans. With that said, for $10 you can take a self-guided tour into a different world. There are plenty of staff available to answer questions and they seem very knowledgeable about the home's construction, previous owners, art and artifacts. I really enjoyed looking at the furniture, but I anticipated more explanations about the origin of each piece. I did not expect to see the volume of "new" artist items they had on display. They also offer an outdoor garden walk, but the day I was there it was too cold to enjoy an outing. Maybe next time...