In the late 1800's, the railroads drove the need for high quality, accurate timepieces. By 1900, American manufactures were producing what were arguably the best watches in the world. The South Bend Watch Company came into existence in 1902 when a number of local business men, including members of the Studebaker family, purchased the Columbus […]
South Bend’s early history is defined by the confluence and intersection of transportation: by river, by train, and by road. Rivers, rails, and highways provided ready access to power and natural resources, faraway markets for the sale of manufactured goods, as well as leisure in the form of entertainment and excursions. The manufactories founded along […]
Studebaker National Museum Archivist Andrew Beckman will take an in-depth look at America’s Most Advanced Automobile, the Studebaker Avanti. This presentation will review its 4,643-car production run, including sales data analysis of the most popular options and accessories as well as a look at the rare and unique Avantis. The talk will also examine the […]
One hundred years ago, Ford Motor Company purchased struggling luxury automaker Lincoln Motor Company. The $8 million deal saved Lincoln from closing, and it expanded Ford's lineup beyond the economical Model T. Over the next 20 years, Edsel Ford guided Lincoln Motor Company with a simple but highly personal vision: "Father made the most popular car in the world. I […]
This talk is rescheduled from its original July date. Chicago’s Historic Motor Row District, is home to the largest, intact, early “motor colony” in the United States. Primarily located on south Michigan Avenue, it was designated as a Chicago Landmark on December 13, 2000, and added to the US National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 2002. […]
Join Studebaker National Museum Archivist Andrew Beckman for a look at the Studebaker President. The presentation will look at the President’s origins in mid-1926 up through the final President model year in 1958, and also touch on Studebaker’s President-powered Indianapolis 500 racing team and the 40-foot long President replica that graced the Studebaker Proving Ground […]
Studebaker: Israeli afterlife is the unlikely and little-known story of how the famed Hoosier car brand continued production in the Holy Land after the Studebaker Plant's closure in South Bend. This lecture will explore Israel's first tycoon's risky vision of a "Detroit of the Middle East" in the city of Haifa, with Studebaker being its […]
In the late 19th century, planned communities were growing in popularity throughout the US. For example, George Pullman wanted to attract and retain talented workers for his business in Chicago. He believed that providing a quality standard of living would keep workers happy, productive, and less likely to strike. South Bend did not have anything […]
Join Studebaker National Museum Archivist Andrew Beckman and former City of South Bend Economic Development Specialist and local historian Andy Laurent for a look at the development and evolution of Studebaker’s South Bend plants from the horse-drawn era up through the end of production in the 1960s. ABOUT SPEAKER SERIES The Studebaker Museum Speaker Series, presented […]
Join Studebaker National Museum Curator Kyle Sater for an exploration into the life and works of Milwaukee-based industrial designer Brooks Stevens, who styled everything from the wide-mouth peanut butter jar to the famous Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. The presentation will be split into two parts: part one will cover Stevens’s vehicle designs—including his work for Studebaker—while […]
Join photography senesation Anthony Schmidt for an evening at the Studebaker National Museum! Dr. Joshua Diehl, former Chief Program Officer for Child and Adolescent Services at LOGAN Center, will moderate a special one-on-one conversation with Anthony in the Wiekamp Auditorium where topics will include Anthony’s stunning photography, his vision and process, and Dr. Diehl’s experience […]
Join us as La Porte County Historian Bruce Johnson, tells the fascinating stories of successful people and businesses in Indiana including Eli Lilly, Harlan Sanders, Wilbur Wright, Madame C. J. Walker, the Ball Brothers, Orville Redenbacher, and many others. ABOUT SPEAKER SERIES The Studebaker Museum Speaker Series, presented by the Campisi Family Education Fund, is held in […]
