News
February 2012
Educating the Community: Dr. Virginia Calvin
January 16 - February 29, 2012. The Studebaker National Museum is celebrating Black History month by opening a new exhibit entitled “Educating a Community: Dr. Virginia ‘Ginny’ Calvin.”
Drinkin’ With Lincoln
On Friday, February 17, the Studebaker National Museum will host an evening of historical fun! Celebrate President Lincoln’s birthday and sample authentic drinks from the 1800s, paired with warm hors d’oeuvres. The event will take place in the AM General Atrium. Event is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, with all galleries open for touring. Live music provided by Steve Foresman.
President’s Day
On Monday, February 20, kids 17 and under can visit The Museums at Washington and Chapin for free on Presidents’ Day. The Museums at Washington and Chapin comprise the Center for History and the Studebaker National Museum. Youth must be accompanied by an adult, whose admission is half price: “a Lincoln and a Washington,” or $6 for adults or $5 for seniors. Members are free. Guided tours of Copshaholm are limited.
Buildings of Champions
Sunday, February 26. The Studebaker National Museum is proud to present “Buildings of Champions: A Look at Studebaker’s South Bend Factories,” a public program covering the history of the Studebaker plant on Sunday, February 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Wiekamp Auditorium. The program will be presented by Mr. Andy Laurent, a local historian who has performed extensive research on Studebaker’s South Bend facilities, and Mr. Andrew Beckman, Studebaker National Museum Archivist.
January 2012
Never Been Kissed: The Museum’s Unrestored Originals
November 11, 2011 - May 13, 2012. Never Been Kissed: The Museum’s Unrestored Originals gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy vehicles that have been untouched since new and still wearing their original paints, interiors and in some cases, even tires! The exhibit will also feature how materials and production methods used in automobile production have changed over the years.
New Acquisition
1922 Studebaker Big Six- Gift of Hershel, Scott, and Timothy J. Murphy of Indianapolis, Indiana. With infant mortality being significantly higher in earlier times, some funeral homes used special hearses for children’s services. Child’s hearses were white to represent a child’s innocence. This hearse features coachwork by the Knightstown Body Company of Knightstown, Indiana. It was owned by the Miller Funeral Home of Brazil, Indiana. It is the only Studebaker child’s hearse known to exist and was only used for one funeral. It later served as a flower delivery vehicle.
Sirens of Chrome
January 20 - April 1, 2012. They’ve been called models, sex symbols and eye candy, as well as informative, knowledgeable and engaging product specialists. The fascinating women (and men) of the auto shows, the progression of their role in selling cars and the distinctly human presence that makes the auto show unique is the focus of a new exhibit, Sirens of Chrome, on display at the Studebaker National Museum.
2011 Design a New Studebaker Design Contest Winners
17 and under division- Jacob Lovins
18-20 division- Alisa Rantanen
21 and over division- Thomas Wilson
Driving Business to St. Joseph County
The Studebaker National Museum recently unveiled an outdoor advertising campaign titled Driving Business to St. Joseph County that will bring visitors to St. Joseph County from more than 50 miles away to increase multi-day and day-trip tourism and its resultant economic benefit to the County.
The campaign includes five different messages on attractive boards designed to drive viewers to the South Bend-Mishawaka Convention & Visitors Bureau website to find out more about the Studebaker National Museum as well as other area attractions, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and lodging venues.
The Driving Business to St. Joseph County outdoor advertising campaign is funded in part by the South Bend/Mishawaka Hotel-Motel Tax Grant and is in cooperation with the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention & Visitors Bureau and runs through the end of the year. Boards are located in Fulton, Marshall, Allen, and St. Joseph Counties.
Museum executive director, Rebecca Bonham said , “the stunning design and color of the billboards are specifically designed to catch one’s attention, and the clever message relating to automobile culture will hopefully get the viewers intrigued to visit and museum and lead them to the CVB website for more information.”
Name the Studebaker National Museum Mascot Contest Winners
Introducing the Studebaker National Museum’s Mascot, Champ! Nicholas Weaver of Granger won first place in the Museum’s Mascot Naming Contest with the name “Champ”. In second place, Anna Jurgonski from South Bend, came up with the name “Stewart the Stude”. Kendra Laidig from Mishawaka suggested the name “Bumper” to take third place. Nick, Anna, and Kendra received a gift certificate from the Museum Store. A big thank you to all who participated! Look for more contests like this in future!
Educational Programs
The Studebaker National Museum offers educational PowerPoint presentations to local schools either in-class or as part of a Museum field trip. The Studebaker National Museum received numerous requests for the 2010-2011 school year. If you or someone you know is an educator and would like to receive more information about these presentations for the 2011-2012 school year, please contact Courtney at 1-888-391-5600, by email cbogunia@studebakermuseum.org, or click here.
Be a Studebaker Scholar!!
We want to see children succeed and do well in school. Students in grades K-6 who earned all A or A-minus grades on their most recent report card will be rewarded with free admission to the Museum one time during regular business hours. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (regular admission fees apply) and the student’s report card must be presented at time of admission.
Don’t miss this opportunity to visit the Studebaker National Museum FREE for earning all A or A- grades on your report card!