Studebaker National Museum: Showcasing Classic Cars

Local history, presidential lore and automotive progress combine at Studebaker National Museum. No telling of South Bend's history is complete without including Studebaker, one of the world’s top automobile manufacturers of yesteryear.

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Gearheads can peruse roughly 120 vehicles, including special exhibits. History buffs can get and up-close look at transportation used on a fateful night in American history. And beyond that, you'll find reason to return every summer as the museum hosts an eye-catching car show.

Nearly 250 years later, the Marquis de Lafayette still looms large in American history as a hero of the Revolutionary era.  But did you know that the fighting Frenchman returned to the U.S. in 1824 for a “farewell tour” of the nation at the invitation of President James Monroe? Celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette’s remarkable journey and explore a treasure of the Studebaker National Museum’s collection—a carriage used by Lafayette on his tour—at this special exhibit. View through May 2025.

Presidential Carriage Collection

Studebaker National Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of U.S. presidential carriages. It features the barouche Abraham Lincoln used en route to Ford’s Theatre the night of his assassination.

Others in the collection include carriages used by Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison.

The Original Collection

Studebaker Corporation in 1966 donated its 33-vehicle collection to the City of South Bend. It included the presidential carriages and the family’s Conestoga wagon. Together it formed the basis for the museum. It runs the gamut of automobiles produced by Studebaker during the height of its production.

Something for the Family

There are multiple interactive exhibits around the museum. One in particular is great for kids – the Super Service Center. Designed for children of all ages, this pretend auto shop is equipped with all the tools they need to perform maintenance on a kid-sized car.

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The Military Collection

Studebaker as a company worked with the U.S. government dating back to its beginnings as a wagon producer. That tradition continued through the Vietnam War. Many of these vehicles are on display at the museum. Studebaker transferred its government contracts in 1964 to Kaiser-Jeep.

In an ode to local history, the museum also displays some vehicles made by the local AM General plant, which has operated in the military sphere.

Concours d'Elegance at Copshaholm

Every summer, Studebaker hosts one of the premier car shows in the Midwest. Concours d'Elegance at Copshaholm is a celebration of automotive design and styling. The one-day event features automobiles from all over the world in different classes. Simply put, they're some of the most beautiful cars you'll see anywhere.