South Bend Remembers ‘Industrial Giant’

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Studebaker plant in South Bend. The archivist at the Studebaker National Museum says the defunct company still has an impact on the community half a century later. Andy Beckman says institutions including Memorial Hospital of South Bend began with donations of Studebaker money or land. The museum is marking the 50th anniversary with an event featuring former employees sharing their stories.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – December 20, 2013, signifies fifty years since the Studebaker Corporation closed its South Bend plant, ending 111 years of quality craftsmanship and innovative design in the city it called home. The Studebaker National Museum’s new exhibit Studebaker: Preserving the Past… Pursuing the Future outlines how Studebaker evolved from a blacksmith shop to a modern automobile manufacturer. Guests will learn about Studebaker’s growth in relation to the City of South Bend and the country as a whole.

Studebaker opened its doors in 1852, and provided jobs to thousands of South Bend families over its long history. Visitors will also learn of Studebaker’s enduring 21st century legacy and its role in propelling our community into the future.

Studebaker: Preserving the Past… Pursuing the Future concludes May 26, 2014.

Something New Under the Sun: Automotive Inventions and Innovations

Have you ever wondered when the first automobile was equipped with air-conditioning? Have you heard of a curb feeler? What about Kapok cushions? These questions and many more are answered in the exhibit Something New Under the Sun: Automotive Inventions and Innovations. In this pictorial-based exhibit, you will see exciting advertisements through the years, for some of the industry’s greatest advances in safety, comfort, and convenience, as well as some fascinating bygone features. Come see this new exhibit at the Studebaker National Museum — Something New Under the Sun: Automotive Inventions and Innovations concludes January 26, 2014.

Source: Studebaker National Museum