We heard there was an interesting automotive museum in South Bend so we decided to check it out…read morewhen we were in South Bend this week. The Studebaker National Museum consists of three floors that display everything from carriages, wagons, automobiles, "sleighs", military vehicles and trucks. The first thing I noticed when we entered the museum was how well the air conditioning worked! It was at least 95 degrees when we arrived. We bought tickets to both the Studebaker and History Museum (which included a tour of the Oliver Mansion adjacent to the museum). I was amazed to learn the earliest Studebaker automobiles were electric and had an approximate 70 mile range. I tried to learn how charging was accomplished but was unable to. There was a display of carriages along with some presidential carriages including the one that transported Abraham Lincoln to the Ford Theater the night of his assassination. Of huge interest was seeing the evolution of automotive design through the years. It could be argued that many cars today look alike. That certainly was not the case 50 or more years ago. Studebaker manufacturing sites were in South Bend, Detroit, Chicago and Hamilton Ontario with the last car coming off the assembly line in in 1966. This was an excellent way to spend a few hours. The museum also includes a gift shop and snack bar.

Great history of the Studebaker company which started with wagons, became the largest auto company…read morein the U.S. prior to World War I - and stayed strong and viable until the early 1960s - going under in 1966. 3 levels of vehicles from all eras complete with signage and history. Studebaker was the largest employer in the area for decades. It is hard now to realize that they were as well known a hundred years ago as GM or Toyota would be today. Very well restored. Takes about 90 minutes to see it all on average.

This was a beautiful house to tour. Our tour guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I learned…read moreso much about the history of this family between the house and the museum. I visited while the house was decorated for Christmas, which I highly recommend. The decorations were gorgeous.

My husband and I came here for "Christmas at Copshaholm" and it was truly magical. We are both born…read moreand raised in Elkhart but neither one of us had ever been here. I saw that it was decorated for Christmas (my favorite holiday) and decided it would be the perfect first visit for us. As soon as you walk in you're hit with the beauty of all the original woodwork in the home. It's absolutely stunning. We learned that all of the furniture is original to the house, which is such a rare and special touch when looking at a historical home. We take historical home tours all over the U.S. and it's very rare that all the furniture is original to the home. We will absolutely be back! I didn't take many pictures because I was taking in all the beauty!

It's tiny but a well-curated small town art museum that is usually free to enter and some good…read morepermanent pieces in the year round collection. Some temporary exhibits are better than others... and that's all I'll say about that... The temporary exhibit featuring the work of Melanie Daniel and Max Kauffman that is about to end was phenomenal! I'll likely be moving to SB in the next year or so, so I anticipate coming here a lot more often.

When you enter - there are 2 separate galleries - one on your left and one on your right. Each are…read moreseparate into about three different areas. The focus is on artists from the geographic area. All is worthy of being displayed - maybe not for a major metro area but ideal for South Bend. And it is free! Very easy to see everything. There are actual teachers providing courses for kids to learn as well. Took me just under an hour.

Recently renovated, the Raclin Murphy museum was a first for me in that I've never visited a museum…read morewith a chapel inside. Sculpture is a large focus for the museum, but they do have works by more well known artists. I appreciated the descriptions next to many of the artworks as they provided additional context. Restrooms were available on all floors and they have space for rotating exhibits. There is a very, very small gift shop on the first floor next to the cafe.

For a small art museum they had an amazing collection! On the Notre Dame campus and always FREE!read more

I have to admit that I fell into my superhero fascination much later in life and I came in through…read morethe movies more than the comic books. As a kid, I was completely taken with Batman - the 1966 version. I could watch and talk that Batman for hours. The rest was interesting to me - but I didn't really get a lot of comics as a kid. I did get The Three Stooges comic books - but not much more. As an adult, my appreciation has spread to Daredevil, Black Adam, and the first two Deadpool movies among others. When I walked into the Hall of Heroes in Elkhart, Indiana, I was blown away. The first element of this five-star experience is the off-street parking. That sounds innocuous, but I am a Chicago guy and parking is always a consideration. The next delightful surprise was the price. It was 10 bucks. I had a HoH coupon for a buck off that I had picked up at another museum, the gentleman applied it to my ticket and my buddy's ticket. This gentleman - Allen Stewart - was quick to give us the rundown on the place. He was thorough, before setting us free in the small - but perfectly packed and maintained - museum. The building is divided by Marvel, D.C., and Independents with no one get preferential treatment. This is how a museum should be - just present what you have and let the visitor enjoy. As we worked our way up one aisle and down the next, we saw every kind of action figure you can imagine and some you couldn't. (Who knew they made Hong Kong Fuey action figures?) I got to pose on the bike that Nic Cage rode in "The Ghost Rider," I also got to lay on the Shelby from "Iron Man." (Stewart diligently took pix until I was totally satisfied. I can be kind of a diva.) We also got up close and personal with Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman. There were so many ancillary super-hero themed novelties from Crazy Foam to metal lunch boxes and so many other things I had completely forgotten about. Suddenly my childhood was displayed in pristine display cases. Hall of Heroes covers generations of comic books and comic book iconography that your grandparents will love it as much as your children. If the little ones get bored - there are free arcade games on hand to keep them satisfied. There are bins of reasonably priced comic books and a small shelf for the obligatory souvenirs. Walking back out into the misty autumn Indiana day, my buddy and I discussed how much Stewart knew and his love for the industry. He made the visit exciting. He isn't a ticket-taker. He is the gateway into the superhero universe.

If you're a comic fan this place is fun. If not, the best thing about it is the arcades, which is…read morecool to see. SO it's okay overall. Just a decent historical covering of comics and tons of memorabilia. I wish the back issues were cheaper and they were better organized as I feel whenever things get too tight to peruse it's too filed up, and perhaps a cheapo cutout section might be cool.

Nice! The Railroad Museum is a beautiful place to visit. Not only is it a perfect place to visit…read morewith children, it also teaches a lot about the railroad history in the US. I loved the observation/ dining car and to learn about how trains were operated in the early 20th century.

Great museum. Just the right size. Has a lot of interactive hands on opportunities. Even has a…read moredemonstration of model trains. Many historical pictures. They even have an area that the kids can do crafts. My recent visit they had a list for you to discover or find things throughout your tour to the museum. I highly recommend visiting here. Great for all ages. I discover something new each time I visit this museum.

Best for smaller kids. Not really a children's museum of its own, but a children's section of the…read moreHistory museum. (Pairs well with the small kids "pit stop" exhibit inside the Studebaker museum.) Especially worth checking out for the 3-6 set. But I wouldn't expect to spend more than about 30 minutes unless you go during one of the programs. South Bend residents can borrow museum passes for free at the library with their library card.

We have brought our small home daycare here many times. Love the fact it's clean, and has new items…read moreeach time we come and the children just love it, so many new experiences ! Thanks so much!!

Absolutely adorable. Such a hidden gem i couldn't get my 6 and 4 year old to leave! So much to…read moreexplore and so much imaginative play to be had! Really wonderful. We stopped on our way cross country and will stop again for sure!

A trip through history! Great assortment of campers to look through. Very interesting place…read more Admission was a bit pricey but it was a fun spot to visit.

I have spent my life camping in various forms from tents, pop ups, rvs and cabins so I thought that…read moreI would check out this museum. First off it's like the house on the rock because once you enter it's a maze and no getting out until the end. This museum is basically the history of camping from the start of recreational camping from the beginning up to modern time with the most basic rigs to the class A motor home. I found it interesting to see how camping/rvs evolved over time from a coffin sized pull along to to a luxury home on wheels. The have various display's including engines and toys. Some displays you can walk in and some are just to look at. The building is massive looking but the museum is on the small side and an easy walk through.