Visitors'
Center - The
City of Elkhart calls themselves "The City With a Heart." For
years and years we have heard a little different slogan: "Musical
Instrument Capital of the World". We don't know about the former but
the latter is definitely true. More band instruments are manufactured in
Elkhart than anywhere else in the world. Not just one but four major,
world renown, manufacturers of musical instruments are here. But there is
much more and the best place to start is the Visitors' Center at 219
Caravan Drive.
From the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90), take exit 92. At the end of
the long off-ramp, turn right, go about a half block to the first road on
your left. Turn left onto Caravan Drive and you'll see the Elkhart County
Convention & Visitors Bureau just ahead (on the other side of
Interchange Drive).
As might befit the 'Musical Instrument Capital', the visitors'
center has audio tapes and CDs so you can take your own 'guided tour' of
the area. Phone: 1-800-262-8161.
RV/MH Museum
- This is an activity of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation. An unusual museum,
exhibits and displays trace the history of recreational vehicles and
manufactured housing going back to the 1920s. On exhibit is a variety of
recreational vehicles plus many, many photos. It is really very
interesting.
Following the directions to the North Central Railroad Museum,
after you cross the tracks just continue one more block to St. Joseph
Street. Turn right and drive to the end of the block to Benham Avenue.
Address is 801 Benham Avenue. Telephone (toll-free) 1-800-378-8694 or
visit their web site at:
RV/MY
Museum.
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in column 2)
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Amish Country
Tours - This
is Amish country and, as stated above, the Visitors' Center has tapes and
CDs for 'guided' tours. You can chose to take a buggy tour if you lake and
have the time. For more information, contact the Visitors' Center. Phone:
1-800-262-8161.
New York Central
Railroad Museum
- Founded in 1987, this museum is not only a preserver of the great NY
Central Railroad and its super trains which connected New York City and
Chicago - through Elkhart, Indiana back inb the days when rail travel was
the vital impetus to the economic and physical growth of the U.S.A. The
museum also allow us to see and understand Elkhart's role as it functioned
in this rail network. Elkhart's rail yard is still among the largest in
the United States and Elkhart still is an important link in our nation's
rail system.
From the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90), turn left at the end of the
long off-ramp and follow IN-19 southbound into Elkhart to its end at
Beardsley Avenue. Turn right, go 3 blocks to Main Street there's a traffic
light there) and turn left. Continue south on Main, crossing the St Joseph
River, to the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and turn right into the
Museum's parking lot. 721 South Main Street; phone 1-574-294-3001.
Hour are 10a-4p Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4p Sundays.
Closed major holidays. Note that this is 'Chicago time' during the summer
months because Indiana does not observe daylight savings time. The rest of
the year this is Eastern Standard Time.
View their web site at
NYC
Museum.
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