Exploring The History and the Heart of Elkhart Indiana
The city of Elkhart located in northern Indiana is a unique community with a rich history that has a special place in my heart. I recently did a road trip to the town I spent a lot of my childhood in. My dad worked at Heart City Toyota for most of my childhood, and I found out my family has some amazing history in this town. I set out to explore the heart of Elkhart Indiana, and learn more about how my family is intertwined in the history of this beautiful city.
Once known to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in the US, Elkhart, IN was home to Miles Laboratories and is also the RV Capital of the world. There are many manufacturers, factories, and dealerships of some of the best RV’s in the country located throughout the city, and you can tour the RV Hall of Fame and learn about the RV history of Elkhart.
Related – Michigan Hometown Road Trip
Things To Do
Midwest Museum of American Art
Located in the middle of downtown Elkhart is the Midwest Museum of American Art. Housed in a renovated bank building, the museum is home to over 6000 works of art with over 1200 on display at any given time. One of the pieces I saw during my tour was the Bride & Groom by Joseph Christian Leyendecker, which was a gift from Jane Burns of Elkhart, IN. The Paul D. Keefe Gallery is located inside the old bank vault and holds beautiful artwork like the Indian Encampment piece by Ralph Albert Blakelock.
The Quilt Gardens
As you stroll through Elkhart you will see pieces of the Quilt Garden throughout the town. We saw one garden quilt at the Ruthmere Museum and one across the street from the NIBCO Water & Ice Park on the riverwalk area by the farmer’s market. You can view the quilts from May to September throughout the Heritage Trail located in six different cities.
Ruthmere Mansion and Beardsley Home
The Ruthmere Mansion is one of the many historic properties throughout the city. You can take a guided tour of the Ruthmere campus which was built by Albert Beardsley back in 1910 is three stories tall, with a garage, garden, greenhouse, and a beautiful porch where they now have weekend coffee and music get-togethers. My family has a bit of history housed on the Ruthmere campus.
My grandma recreated the drapes that hang throughout the mansion, and my Aunt and Grandma did the needlepoint work on the seat covers of the chairs in the dining room. As I toured this beautiful mansion, I couldn’t help but feel like my grandma was there with me telling me tales of the days she spent making these beautiful drapes for this historic home. It was a sweet and somewhat sad walk through the history of this amazing home and museum.
Tip: Be sure to ask for a guided tour of Ruthmere Mansion, you can call for reservations and tickets. On the weekends they offer a unique experience of history through free concerts on the grounds, coffee meetups, and tea parties.
The Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum
Out of all the places we visited, I think we were the most surprised by The Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum. As you enter the museum, you can see at first glance that it is going to be a pretty awesome experience. My head was instantly on a swivel, with the life-size HULK greeting you at the entrance to the many arcade games in the corner, that are free with your admission ticket. This is the world’s only superhero and comic museum and it covers over 80 years of superhero, comics, toys, film, and animation. As we made our way down the aisles, Marvel on the left and DC on the right, IYKYK, I was drawn to the authenticity of the memorabilia that I was looking at. This museum was started and owned by and is home to over 70,000 comics and 10,000 toys, figures, and movie props.
My favorite part of the museum wasn’t the Shelby Cobra from Iron Man, the Hell Cycle from Ghost Rider, or a screen-used Green Lantern ring worn by Ryan Reynolds.
It was meeting the actual Chicago Bears Mascot Staley. I have been a Chicago Bears fan since I could walk, and this was definitely not planned, but it was a highlight for me.
For my husband, it was an experience that he will not forget. He is a huge Marvel and all-around superhero fan. When he saw the life-sized Hulk, I knew this would be top on his list of favorite places we visited on this trip. He was also excited to see the many action figures from his childhood like SGT Rock from GI Joe, and Thundarr The Barbarian.
The Lerner Theatre
The historic Lerner Theater is located across the street from the Hotel Elkhart and was originally opened in 1924. These days the Lerner Theater is home to the Kimball Organ. Refurbished in 2011, this amazing pipe organ was there when the theater opened in 1924, and is still used to this day. During the last refurbishing of the theater, they added a reception and ballroom space. Be sure to check the website for shows and times.
Outdoor Water Fun
The Elkhart River and St. Joseph River meet in the heart of Elkhart and are both a great place for kayaking or canoeing. There are walkabouts throughout the city that cross over the rivers in various spots. You can launch your kayak or canoe at Beardsley Park located at 135 E. Beardsley Ave. There is also a new ADA-compliant kayak launch and access to the river for fishing. There is also a launch at Edgewater Park, off Edgewater Boulevard on the south bank of the St. Joseph River.
Elkhart Farmers Market
There are so many pet-friendly things to do in Elkhart and the surrounding areas. The Elkhart Farmers Market returns every year from spring to fall and offers a wide selection of goods from fresh fruits and vegetables to coffee, to rotating vendors. The pups had a great time, received a few treats and water, and loved smelling the flowers. I picked up some local coffee from Hart City Coffee and found out about a couple of great local charities. What About Willis is a nonprofit serving cancer patients and their dogs in Elkhart County.
Take a Stroll In Downtown Elkhart
Stroll around downtown and see how many decorated hearts you can find. Like this one located in the parking lot by the river. I found quite a few, but I know there many more to find.
You can also find murals throughout the city painted on many of the buildings. It showcases some beautiful artwork and visually appealing stories.
Other Museums and Attractions to check out are the National New York Central Railroad Museum, the Studebaker Museum, and the Elkhart County Historical Museum.
Where To Stay
The Hotel Elkhart
Hotel Elkhart is a historic hotel located on the main street right in the heart of Elkhart. You will be within walking distance of many restaurants and attractions in the middle of downtown. The Hotel Elkhart has been the pride and joy of downtown Elkhart since 1923. It reopened in the Summer of 2021, after a beautiful restoration to preserve its jazz-age grandeur. The décor showcases the city’s storied past and artistic style into the present and modern day. Details like the original terrazzo and marble floors in the lobby to the moldings around the columns and ceiling, showcase the history of this beautiful hotel.
Our suite was a welcomed treat with a large entryway and wet bar, a full living room with a large flat-screen TV, a gift bag, and a writing desk. Our very spacious bedroom was decorated with doggy beds for the girls, dog dishes, a scarf, a dog bone, and a name tag for each of them.
I was able to enjoy the great outdoors on the rooftop of the hotel after a storm came through. The rooftop bar offers a great selection of cocktails and hor de hourves to enjoy while you catch a beautiful sunset. There is also a ballroom on the top floor that is available for events throughout the year.
Where To Eat
The Hotel Elkhart has two restaurants to choose from, and of course, we ate at both, twice. The Corner Bar is casual eating, with signature cocktails. They have happy hours, live music events, and even trivia night, which we were able to partake in. We came in 4th, but that was fine with us because we had a great time.
The Corner Bar
Inside the Hotel Elkhart is The Corner Bar menu is amazing, and the bacon fat fries were so good we had them twice. The first night I had the fish and chips, which included the yummy fries and breaded cod filets. The husband had a burger with waffle fries, which were equally as yummy. My first cocktail was a Butterfly Lemonade. It had Gin, Creme Do Violette, Lemoncello, and lemonade. My husband had a Jamaican Rum Punch, which was like heaven on a beach. My second cocktail was a smoked Old Fashioned, which is my signature drink to try everywhere I go.
On our second night, I tried the Prosseco Garden Scampi, which is made with shrimp, brussel sprouts, perfectly cooked pasta, and shaved parmesan. The cocktail I chose was the Smoky Paloma made with mescal, honey simple syrup, lime juice, and grapefruit juice. Vern got the burger again but switched the waffle fries out for the bacon fat fries. He opted for a beer this time to go with his dinner.
The Vine
If you are looking for a great wine-and-dine experience, then head to The Vine on Main Street. It’s a great place to grab a bottle of wine and a delicious meal. The unique and delectable menu offers everything from seafood to pastas, to burgers. They are even known for their craft pizzas. Their libations menu has beer, wine, and craft cocktails.
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
For a yummy dessert option, head over to Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for their handcrafted ice cream treats. We decided to get an ice cream flight with four flavors so we could try a few different fan favorites. We got chocolate, black cherry, strawberry, and strawberry brownie cheesecake. It was all really good and at a great price.
Iechyd Da Brewing Company
I try to visit at least one brewery in every town I go to. On this visit, we stopped at Iechyd Da Brewing Company. The ambiance was great and very welcoming, and the beer selection was pretty large. I asked for a flight of the fan favorites and added a couple of my own choices.
The flight had seven different choices, which was great. The husband got his signature favorite, an Irish Red called Cantankerous Irish Red. We were starving after our two-mile walk around town so we also ordered a pizza, which was absolutely delicious. We ordered the cheese pizza with different choices of toppings on each side so we could both enjoy it.
Relish Cafe & Confections
The Relish Cafe & Confections is a perfect downtown bistro. Located on the bottom floor of the Hotel Elkhart, it is open for breakfast and brunch. The menu is filled with tantalizing waffle options and a few healthy choices too. The first morning I got the avocado toast and a bowl of fruit. It was perfectly made and topped with sliced tomatoes. The husband got his go-to breakfast choice of the “All American”, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and coffee. He said it was great.
The second morning some friends from my hometown joined us for brunch. Vern decided to try the French toast waffle and said it was spectacular. I decided to go with a savory waffle and fruit again. Our friends got the eggs benedict, and the “All American”. Everything was amazing, and the coffee on both days was perfect.
Places Near By To Visit
The comfort of the unhurried Amish life can be found just up the road in Shipshewana. Known as the heart of Amish country, you will find markets, and homemade goods for sale throughout the town.
