The first Studebaker vehicle, a farm wagon, was built by brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana, in 1852. The first electric-powered Studebaker was introduced in 1902, and the production of gasoline-powered Studebakers began two years later. Although the electric line was discontinued in 1912, gasoline-engined Studebakers continued to roll off the production line until 1966.
In consort with our Profile car this month we thought peering back into Studebaker history might be interesting, so we found this site for the Studebaker National Museum. The museum itself is in the heart of South Bend, not far from the campus of Notre Dame University, but a taste is available here.
On the home page are headings for The Museum Store, What’s New and Interact that are essentially self-explanatory, but the links across the top of the page seem most valuable. Under “What’s Happening” are listings of current Exhibits and upcoming Events—like the annual car raffle—as well as News about the museum. The “Visitor Information” link provides maps and directions to the museum, as well as information about hours of operation and available tours of the facility.
Under “Archives & Education” is a roster of the various Collections held by the museum, a listing of Research options available and Educational opportunities. Finally, there’s the “Museum Store” link where a variety of Studebaker merchandise can be obtained.
