The museum holds the original carriage used by President Abraham Lincoln to travel to Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination.
It preserves the records of the Studebaker Corporation, including original engineering blueprints and production ledgers dating back to the 1850s.
The collection contains the 1966 Studebaker Cruiser, which was the final vehicle to roll off the assembly line in Hamilton, Ontario.
The facility houses the 'World's Largest Collection of Commercial Vehicles' produced by a single manufacturer.
Many of the displayed vehicles are rotated from the museum's extensive off-site storage to ensure the exhibits remain dynamic.
The building's design features expansive glass walls meant to showcase the vehicles as works of industrial art.
The museum features a specific collection of rare, one-of-a-kind concept cars that never reached full-scale mass production.
The Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, houses the world's most comprehensive collection of Studebaker vehicles, ranging from pre-automotive horse-drawn wagons to the company's final 1966 models. The facility features a distinctive 55,000-square-foot, three-story architectural design with high-ceilinged galleries and climate-controlled exhibit spaces. Visitors explore the evolution of transportation, including early presidential carriages used by Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. The collection includes significant prototypes, such as the 1934 Bendix SWC and the 1952 Starliner. Interactive displays detail the company's military contributions during World War II, including the production of M29 Weasel tracked vehicles. The museum is located on the campus of the Century Center, adjacent to the historic Tippecanoe Place mansion. It serves as an archive for the Studebaker Corporation's records and manufacturing history. The layout guides guests through chronological milestones of American automotive industrialization.
The main ramp area connecting the three levels provides a vertical perspective that captures multiple tiers of vehicles in a single frame.
Prioritize the lower-level galleries first, as they often contain the most fragile and historically significant early carriages.
Check the official website for rotating special exhibitions, as the museum frequently collaborates with other automotive institutions.
Allow extra time to visit the museum shop, which specializes in rare Studebaker-related literature and technical manuals.
Do not overlook the 'hands-on' educational area on the lower level, which is frequently missed by visitors rushing through the main car galleries.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Maintain a respectful distance from vehicles, as many exhibit pieces are not protected by stanchions or ropes.
