About the Museum
Preserves legacy of Studebaker family from wagon-making to automobile manufacturing. Collections include presidential carriages, classic cars, and industrial history of South Bend.
Presidential Carriages and the Original Collection
The Studebaker National Museum houses the world's largest collection of U.S. presidential carriages, featuring extraordinary vehicles that carried some of America's most influential leaders. Among these treasures is the barouche that transported President Abraham Lincoln to Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination—one of the most historically significant vehicles in American history. The collection also includes President Grant's elegant Brewster Landau, President McKinley's Studebaker Phaeton, and President Benjamin Harrison's Studebaker Brougham. These magnificent carriages, donated to the City of South Bend in 1966 by the Studebaker Corporation along with the family's circa 1835 Conestoga Wagon, form the nucleus of what became the museum's "Original Collection" and represent the pinnacle of 19th-century American craftsmanship.
From Wagons to Automobiles: A Century of Innovation
Spanning three floors of exhibits, the Studebaker National Museum tells the remarkable story of the only American wagon-maker to successfully transition into automobile manufacturing. The main level chronicles Studebaker history from the 1800s through 1934, showcasing the family's evolution from humble blacksmiths to international industrialists. The upper level displays vehicles from 1934 onward, documenting the company's automotive innovations and stylish designs that made Studebaker automobiles sought-after classics. The lower level features military vehicles and equipment that highlight Studebaker's crucial contributions to American defense efforts, along with additional vehicles in innovative "viewable storage" where cars are stacked on lifts yet remain visible to visitors—a creative solution that allows the museum to display more of its extensive collection.
South Bend's Industrial Heritage
The museum chronicles more than just the Studebaker story—it preserves the industrial heritage of South Bend itself, a city whose identity became inseparable from the Studebaker name. Visitors can trace the company's journey from the Studebaker family's first wagon in the 1830s to the last automobile that rolled off the South Bend assembly line in 1966, experiencing firsthand the technological and social transformations that shaped American manufacturing. Connected to The History Museum and sharing an entrance as part of The Museums at Washington and Chapin, the Studebaker National Museum offers combination tickets allowing visitors to explore multiple aspects of the region's rich history. Plan to spend 2-3 hours exploring the three floors of exhibits that document this uniquely American success story.
Highlights of the Collection
Across three floors of exhibits, the museum showcases:
- U.S. presidential carriages — including the Barouche that carried Abraham Lincoln to Ford's Theatre, plus carriages associated with Presidents Grant, McKinley, and Benjamin Harrison.
- The Studebaker family Conestoga wagon — dating to around 1835, marking the company's origins as wagon-makers.
- Classic Studebaker automobiles — documenting the firm's evolution through 1966, when the last car left the South Bend assembly line.
- Military vehicles and "viewable storage" — where additional vehicles are displayed on lifts, allowing more of the collection to be seen.
Planning Your Visit
The Studebaker National Museum is located at 201 Chapin Street in downtown South Bend, Indiana, where it shares an entrance with The History Museum as part of The Museums at Washington and Chapin. Combination tickets are often available for visitors wishing to explore both institutions. Plan to spend two to three hours touring the museum's three floors of exhibits. For current hours, admission prices, and information on special programs and exhibits, visit the official website at studebakermuseum.org.
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