News
Mother’s Day- Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Studebaker National Museum and the Center for History (The Museums at Washington and Chapin) will honor all mothers on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013, by offering them free admission to the Museums when accompanied by a child. This will allow families to spend the day together while
enjoying some of our area’s most treasured artifacts.
Connecting Rods
Connecting Rods are individuals who have provided the Studebaker National Museum with information about someone they knew who was employed by Studebaker.
Please email Courtney to receive information on how you can become a Connecting Rod.
The Studebaker National Museum would like to recognize those individuals who have helped to preserve Studebaker Corporation history. Click here for a list of individuals and their connection. A Certificate of Recognition is available and can be printed off by clicking here.
2012 Studebaker National Museum Car Raffle Winners
The Studebaker National Museum would like to thank everyone who purchased a car raffle ticket. 1,895 tickets were sold! The following are the winners of the drawing, which took place December 4th at 6 p.m.
1st Place – Don Ritschard – Edwardsburg, MI
2nd Place – Alfio Piraccini – Mishawaka, IN
3rd Place – Kelly & Deb Neubauer – Granger, IN
Thank you again for your participation!
Studebaker-Bendix Heritage Trail
The Studebaker-Bendix Heritage Trail takes you on a path highlighting some of South Bend’s influential titans of industry. Their successful endeavors employed thousands of people and impacted the community from the factories and homes they built to the churches they funded. Take a look at the new Studebaker-Bendix Heritage Trail Guide to find these wonderful sites located throughout the South Bend area. Click here to view this guide.
NEW BOOK CELEBRATES THE AVANTI’S 50th ANNIVERSARY
The Studebaker National Museum is proud to announce the release of Studebaker’s Last Dance: The Avanti by Museum Archivist Andrew Beckman. The book celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Avanti’s debut and features a look at the Avanti’s origins, design process, and production. Studebaker’s Last Dance also features previously unpublished images from the Museum’s Archives. The book is available in the Studebaker National Museum Store, on the Museum’s online store, and at the St. Joseph County Public Library.
The Avanti’s story is one of the automotive industry’s most remarkable tales. From its whirlwind origins in a Palm Springs bungalow coupled with an impossibly short timetable and budget, it is no small miracle the Avanti ever saw the light of day. Its debut in April of 1962 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved with Studebaker’s sports car.
In the end, the Avanti did not save Studebaker. By 1962, it can be argued nothing could have. Still, the company’s quest for salvation brought them back to the playbook that made Studebaker a styling leader: Fresh, original design backed by the Raymond Loewy name.
“Studebaker’s Last Dance” looks at how America’s oldest automobile manufacturer came to build “America’s Most Advanced Automobile.” We hope you enjoy the ride!
NEW EXHIBIT: STUDEBAKER AT THE BRICKYARD COMING SOON!
Coming Nov. 16, 2012 - The Studebaker National Museum is proud to announce Studebaker at the Brickyard, an exhibit focusing on the company’s participation in the Indianapolis 500. The exhibit opens November 16, 2012, and runs through April 28, 2013.
Studebaker at the Brickyard will focus on Studebaker’s factory-backed teams in 1932 and 1933. Three of the original Studebaker team cars will be reunited as part of the exhibit. A special thanks to Mike Cleary (#18 car), August Grassis (#34 car), and Bob Valpey (#37 car) for making this possible!
The exhibit will also feature a look at Studebaker’s Pace Car history, with a special focus on the 1952 race. Studebaker celebrated its Centennial that year and hosted a special weekend of events at The 500, in addition to supplying the Pace Car. Also featured will be Studebaker as a race car sponsor.
STUDEBAKER NATIONAL MUSEUM WINS AWARD
The Studebaker National Museum received a NAMMY award at the recent National Association of Automobile Museums Annual conference held at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana.
The NAMMY’s honor the work of museum professionals for the calendar year 2011. They are designed to further encourage professionalism in automotive/transportation museum managerial, curatorial, educational, and promotional work. The awards are intended to recognize automotive transportation museum industry leaders for achievement, professionalism and creativity.
NAAM is a trade organization for the institutions and people dedicated to the automobile and its history. The association is open to all categories of members, from museums to companies, from auto clubs to individuals interested in the automobile.
Ms. Rebecca J. Bonham, Executive Director of the Studebaker National Museum, is retiring after 9 years of service on the National Association of Auto Museums Board of Directors.
Ms. Kristina Craig (Owner, Kreative Koncepts), Mr. John Thurin (Retired marketing firm owner), and Mr. Kevin Fye (Owner, Imagine Visual Marketing) served as judges.
The Studebaker National Museum received a 1st Place Award of Excellence in the category of Interpretive Exhibits. This prestigious award was given to the Museum for the design and promotion of all collateral materials associated with the “Design a Studebaker” special exhibit that ran from March 3 to October 21st, 2011.
At the National Conference of the Museum Store Association, held in New Orleans in April 2012, Rebecca Bonham was elected Vice President of the MSA’s Midwest Chapter.
Studebaker Super Service Center
Cruises into the Studebaker National Museum!
Families who visit the Studebaker National Museum this spring will have the opportunity to tinker around in a new auto mechanic shop exhibit for children, the Studebaker Super Service Center. The exhibit will open to the public on April 2, 2012, thanks to the generosity of exhibit sponsor Tire Rack. Additional support was provided by: the Studebaker Drivers Club, the Antique Studebaker Club, the Avanti Owners Association Internat’l., the Walmart Foundation, and the Studebaker National Museum 2011 Annual Fund donors.
Exhibit Features:
The Service Center: An overhead metal grid and realistic looking auto shop backdrop will help set the scene for busy little workers. Fun work shirts and complete with patches, enhance the role-play experience by allowing kids to dress the part.
The Car: Mini mechanics can work as a team to perform maintenance on a kid-sized car, which is hoisted on a lift so that children can slide underneath using an actual creeper to change the muffler and tailpipe, and loosen/tighten the oil pan. Kids can peek under the hood and trigger fun sound effects as they change the air filter, add fluids, and check the battery and oil. Exterior work includes changing the tires with a realistic-sounding pneumatic driver and switching personalized license plates.
The Parts: Kids can process work orders at the mechanic’s desk using a pretend maintenance manual. To order parts, children can place a call to the shipping dock and ask another “worker” to deliver the order. Shipments can be placed on the parts table where children can sort and stack a variety of real tools and parts. A changeable wall clock will help keep mechanics on track and work orders moving.
The Tools: Kids will enjoy climbing through a tire wall to get to the tool box with working drawers. They will find all the tools of the trade to keep their vehicle purring, including kid-friendly wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and more.
The Studebaker Super Service Center’s interactive play activities are designed to stimulate the positive development of fundamental skills in young children. Selecting tools, replacing parts and filling work orders requires sorting, matching and problem solving, which teaches basic science and math skills. Working with other mechanics and businesses in the community encourages positive social skills through cooperative play. Climbing, sliding and lifting provide physical activities to enhance children’s gross motor skills.
Studebaker National Museum Elects New Trustees
On Tuesday, May 8, The Studebaker National Museum held its annual meeting at which the Board of Trustees elected five new trustees to serve three-year terms. The newly elected board members are as follows: Deborah Cafiero, Brad Emberton, Harry Dees, Patrick Ruszkowski, and Rob DeCleene.
Trustees elected to serve additional three-year terms are: Tim Batalis, Charles Hayes, Michael Kendzicky, Chuck Loving, Tom Lowe, Mike Marien, and Nyal Weaver.
Trustees completing their service on the board are: John Farrell, Mark McDonnell, and Robert Shields. Mr. Shields was elected to Life Trustee Status.
Officers elected for 2012-2013 are: Mike Kendzicky, President; Mike Palmer, First Vice President; Marci Burdick, Second Vice President; Merlin Bellinger, Recording & Corresponding Secretary; and Daniel Smogor, Treasurer.