Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Elkhart (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ruthmere Mansion, National New York Central Railroad Museum, and Midwest Museum of American Art. Also, be sure to include Lerner Theatre in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Elkhart (Indiana).
Table of Contents
Ruthmere Mansion
Mansion in Elkhart, Indiana. Ruthmere, formerly the Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley Residence, is a three-story Beaux-Arts mansion that is the most prominent historic residence in Elkhart, Indiana, United States. Built in 1910, the Ruthmere Mansion is now open to the public as a museum, along with the neighboring Dr. Havilah Beardsley House.
Ruthmere is located along the St. Joseph River in Elkhart. The architect was Enock Hill Turnock, commissioned by Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley in 1908. The Beardsleys named the mansion in memory of their only child, Ruth, who died at seven months. ("Mere" reflects the Latin root maris and refers to the home's proximity to water.) The mansion was a place of business, family, political and social gatherings until the deaths of the Beardsleys in 1924. Robert Beardsley of The Beardsley Foundation purchased the mansion in 1967 with the main goal of restoring it to its original beauty in order to create a museum for the community. Restoration took place between 1969 and 1973 when the mansion was made available to the public. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and the Beardsley Avenue Historic District was established several years later.[1]
Address: 302 E Beardsley Ave, 46514-2719 Elkhart
National New York Central Railroad Museum
Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. The National New York Central Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Elkhart, Indiana dedicated to the preservation of the New York Central Railroad.
The museum includes several outdoor equipment displays, indoor model railroads, artifacts from the NYC and other railroad related exhibits including educational displays pertaining to the history of railroading. The museum is currently expanding its dedication to the preservation of both local and national railroad heritage. The museum consists of a modified NYC 20th Century Limited train set and freight house built by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) in 1907.[2]
Address: 721 S Main St, 46516-3715 Elkhart
Midwest Museum of American Art
Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. The Midwest Museum of American Art is a non-profit public art museum located in downtown Elkhart, Indiana, United States.
The museum's 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) space houses a collection focusing on 19th and 20th century American art. Its collection includes selections of Abstract expressionism, American Impressionism, the Chicago Imagists, Overbeck art pottery, Pop art, Regionalism, the Ashcan School, and Western art (art from the American West). Artworks in the collection include works by Norman Rockwell, Hans Hofmann, Edward Moran, Roger Brown, Grant Wood, Arthur Bowen Davies, Ralph Albert Blakelock and many others.
Each fall the museum hosts the Elkhart Juried Regional competition. The museum publishes a quarterly newsletter and published its first Catalogue of the Permanent Collection in 2004.[3]
Address: 429 S Main St, 46516-3210 Elkhart
Lerner Theatre
Theatre. Lerner Theatre, also known as the Elco Theatre, is a historic theatre located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It was built in 1924, and is a two-story, reinforced concrete and steel, Beaux-Arts style building. The front facade features four Corinthian order columns, three freestanding urns, enriched cornice, parapet and frieze. The building is faced with terra cotta and has a lighted canopy projecting over the sidewalk. The auditorium features a large central dome measuring 30 to 40 feet in diameter. Built as a vaudeville theatre, by the late 1920s it had evolved into a motion picture palace.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is located in the Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District.[4]
Address: 410 S Main St, 46516-3209 Elkhart
Dr. Havilah Beardsley House
Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. Dr. Havilah Beardsley House is a historic home located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. It was built in 1848, and is a two-story, rectangular, Italianate style brick dwelling. It has a medium pitched gable roof, full width front porch with Ionic order fluted columns, rounded openings, and decorative brackets. It has later flanking one-story, flat roofed wings. It was built by Havilah Beardsley, founder of the city of Elkhart. The house is operated as a historic house museum as part of the Ruthmere Mansion complex.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It is located in the Beardsley Avenue Historic District.[5]
Address: 102 W Beardsley Ave, 46514-2753 Elkhart
RV/MH Hall of Fame
Museum. The RV/MH Hall of Fame is a 100,000 sq. ft. museum in Elkhart, Indiana that features a variety of historical recreational vehicles from Airstream, Winnebago and other American makers. The foundation states that their primary goals are to "To create a display of historic RV/MH products in a museum for the education and enjoyment of the public."[6]
Address: 21565 Executive Pkwy, 46514-9693 Elkhart
Bridge Street Bridge
Concrete bridge in Elkhart. Bridge Street Bridge, also known as the County Bridge #387, is a historic reinforced concrete bridge located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. It was built in 1939 and spans the St. Joseph River. The bridge measures 272 feet long and consists of a 116 foot long center span, flanked by 67 foot long spans to the east and west. It measures 52 feet wide, with a 40-foot roadway and 6 foot sidewalks on either side.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[7]
Elkhart Environmental Center
Museum, Nature and wildlife, Park
Address: 1717 E Lusher Ave, 46516-4967 Elkhart
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association, also known as the Elkhart Y.W.C.A. and Lexington House, is a historic YWCA located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. It was built in 1919, and is a three-story, brick building on a raised basement and Bungalow / American Craftsman style design elements. It measures approximately 40 feet wide and 150 feet deep. It has a flat roof and arched openings on the first floor.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It is located in the Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District.[8]
Green Block
Green Block, also known as the Smith Frye Building, is a historic commercial building located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. It was built in 1895, and is a two-story, eclectic Italianate style brick commercial building. It features projecting pressed metal bays above each storefront and at the corners and arched second story openings with balconies.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is located in the Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District.[9]
Charles Gerard Conn Mansion
Charles Gerard Conn Mansion, also known as the Strong-Conn Mansion, is a historic home located at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. It was built in 1884, and is a two-story, Italianate style painted brick mansion. It features a two-story, Classical Revival style wraparound porch supported by 17 pillars and two-story projecting front bay. It was the home of musical instrument manufacturer C.G. Conn.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.[10]