center for history

We stopped to see the Studebaker National Museum, but were sold the combo tickets that included the Center for History. The Center for History Museum was not that great, less than exciting small town museum. (The Studebaker National Museum was great, will review that separately).The guy who sold us the tickets did not do a good job of explaining the Center for History, or whether or not I had the option to just get the Studebaker National Museum tickets.When we bought the tickets the man asked if we were going to tour the Oliver Mansion. Luckily I said, yea, whatever. Wow, what a place! If you want to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous from the 1800s, you really need to tour the Oliver Mansion, a very impressive home, and a great history lesson.

Everything is authentic no reproductions. Quite an experience to learn about how the Butler lived and the house is magnificent even by today's standards.

Take a tour of the 38 room Oliver Mansion completed in 1897 with electricity and indoor plumbing! Visit the wide variety of changing exhibitions? Also visit the Studebaker national Museum displaying carriages, cars, trucks, and army vehicles.

Super visit for family, single or a group. Very professional in layout and full coverage of the local history. The Woman's Softball exhibit, WWI Remembrance exhibit and others, are well planned out.

Fabulous mansion, incredible woodwork, very interesting history of this home and family. Highly recommended. Right next door to the Studebacker Museum.

This well preserved mansion was built by an early Indiana industrialist, Joseph Oliver who was the founder of the Oliver Chilled Plow Factory. The house was built in 1895 and named Copshaholm. It is well preserved and fully decorated with the Oliver family heirlooms. The tour is well led by an informative docent. The price of admission includes a tour of a typical worker's home and the Studebaker museum. There is a lot to see and well worth the price of admission. This series of museums is a hidden treasure!

I enjoyed going on the house tour and seeing how the rich and influential lived. I can't imagine ever having that kind of money. The museum was well done and I am glad I went. Since the Studebaker museum is right there, I recommend, going there also.

I took my 2 children they are 5 and 3 and the Kidsfirst exhibit was amazing. My kids did'n't want to leave we did both museums Center for History and the Studebaker museum.. well worth it. We were there for 3 1/2 hrs walked through it all but can't wait to go back because I know I will learn something new. If you live in the area or visiting I recommend you got there.

Stopped by after visiting the Studebaker museum. It was definitely worth the visit. There was a lot to see and pleasant staff. Make an afternoon of it and visit both. They are a part of the same building.

The Center for History museum was such an amazing surprise. We have seen our share of museums across the country but we both walked out of there wowed. The attention to detail in the displays is prenominal. The interactive displays for adults and children is wonderful. The Afro-American history information and video were excellent. This is a must see even if you are just passing through South Bend.

For all intents and purposes, we include the Oliver Mansion, Studebaker Museum and History Museum as the Center for History. It's all together and should be done at the same time in my opinion. The actual history exhibit is not enticing in and of itself, but it's worth a look. We did the Studebaker Museum, which is excellent, then did the Oliver Mansion, including a fairly lengthy video before you see the servants house or the main mansion, then we toured the history exhibit. I would say we were there 3-1/2 hours all in all. Well worth it.

You MUST see this! It's part history of the Oliver Plow company and part Studebaker museum. You get a guided tour of the fabulous Copshaholm Oliver mansion with an informed guide, and a walking tour of a collection of Studebaker automobiles and carriages. You MUST then go two blocks down Washington street, as we did, and wander through the Studebaker mansion, Tippecanoe Place. It's now a resteraunt, but they let you walk through and hand you a guide book. It's amazing! I would go after lunch is over, around 2PM.

Who knew South Bend had such a fascinating history? Excellent displays with knowledgeable descriptions. Highlights are the Studebaker museum and Mansion tour.

A great spot for history buffs. The Oliver`s developed the Chilled Plow manufacturing technique and built a great fortune. They moved into the mansion on Washington just blocks from Clem Sudebaker Estate in January of 1897. Named Copshaolm the mansion has 12,000 square feet of living space on 3 floors. It contains 14 fireplaces, 6 full bathrooms, 3 half baths, and a total of 38 rooms. There are docent led tours that introduce you to the family and the mansion. The Center for History also houses the Studebaker museum and you can purchaser tickets for both. Try and have lunch at the Studebaker Mansion now a restaurant called Tippecanoe Place.

A unique collection of Studebakers on 2 floors, along with carriages (one of Abraham Lincoln) which the Studebaker company made. Notre Dame history and rotating collections, (right now there is a World War I exhibition). The jewel of the collection is a well maintained example of late 19th century home of a local industrialist which is an authentic furnished with family pieces. You will love all three parts of this museum.