Eastward Ho

After leaving Chicago, we headed East again with a destination of Indiana before us.  On my bucket list is a small museum in the RV capital of the nation, Elkhart Indiana.  It isn't far from Chicago and my heart has been ablaze for vintage trailers for a long, long time.  The RV Hall of Fame Museum created a whole new appreciation for the history of motorhomes for me.

 

 

 

 

Rick was a facebook friend who loved vintage trailers and was always ready to give some advise to other trailer owners with a big dose of humor and fun.  This memorial tree was planted in his honor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RV Hall of Fame Museum and Rick Millet Memorial Tree

According to Tin Can Tourists forum, a motor home is considered vintage at 20 years old.  My RoadTrek officially becomes vintage in 2016.  I shall embrace it's vintageness.

There were some marvelous specimens of early motorhomes.  Since I had never seen any of these guys on the road or at a road rally it was great to actually see some of the early versions that have been preserved. 

A 1916 Automotive Telescoping Apartment which was made in San Fransisco. With it's slide in bed in the back and side panels utilized for kitchen items, it became the predecessor to the pick up and camper.

 

   

1937 Hunt Housecar

May West's Town Car

This 1931 Chevrolet based custom town car was built and given to May West as an enticement to come to Paramount studios and make movies.  She never camped in it but rather, she was chauffeured from home to studio lot in luxury.

This Eldorado (one of only two)was built in 1988 by Paul Jones in Florida to fit into a standard height garage using a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado chassis.

There were lots of travel trailers of different styles and makes...but I was thoroughly enthralled with the motor homes and their history.  There is a library upstairs in the museum dedicated to many types of RV's and trailers. 

Overnight parking is available in the parking lot for a night when you attend the museum.

Although near the interstate the building blocked much of the noise and it was a peaceful place to spend the night.

There was a scenic drive through the Amish farm lands south of Elkhart which should have taken a couple of hours....but for us it was much longer.  We stopped many times for pictures....snacks and shopping.  We ended up enjoying another day along a beautiful country drive. 

Mill that still grinds flours and corn for visitors.

There is one standout in every crowd

There are lots of quilts in for sale in Amish Country

They are also found on barns and other buildings

 

 

We are used to sharing the road with runners and bikes out west.  Here we shared the road with horses and buggies along with Amish Families going about there daily lives.

While many families will ride in cars they prefer to keep their lives simple and at a slower pace.

 

There large white homes and farms were easy to identify as a buggy was often parked in the driveway instead of a car. 

 Court house in Goshen, Indiana where my Great Grandparents received their wedding license.

 They were married in Elkhart, Indiana.

This was my favorite quilt. It was found at the  Wakarusa Dime Store (a old time candy store)

We of course indulged in sweet treats!! 

~ Sweet and Happy Trails ~