It wasn’t long after automobiles became the mainstay of American society that people began converting them into recreational vehicles or pulling camping trailers behind them. Both the first motorhome and the first travel trailers made their debuts in 1910. Last summer we visited the RV-MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, where campers dating as far back as the 1916 are on display in the museum, including some once owned by well-known people.
I found it interesting that although styles have changed and conveniences added over the years, the basic recreational vehicle concepts are still the same. Here are some of our museum favorites:
1916 Cozy Camp Tent Trailer
1928 Pierce Arrow Fleet Housecar
1931 Tennessee Traveler Housecar
1931 Mae West Housecar
1935 York Rambler
1939 Lindbergh Travel Trailer
1957 Serro Scotty 10-Foot Teardrop Trailer
1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion
If you visit the RV-MH Hall of Fame
The RV-MH Hall of Fame is located at 21565 Executive Parkway in Elkhart, Indiana. Check the website for hours and admission fees.
Accommodations
Overnight parking is allowed at the RV-MH Hall of Fame. Check the website for details. The RV-MH Hall of Fame website also lists area campgrounds. During our visit to the Elkhart area, we didn’t camp. We stayed at the Murphy Guest House in Bristol, Indiana. Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.
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Disclosures: The Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau.and the RV-MH Hall of Fame hosted our visit to the RV-MH Hall of Fame. However, any opinions expressed in this article are my own.
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I just have to stop and leave a comment because this was such a fun post. I love vintage campers and trailers and have visited vintage trailer shows, but I had no idea they had a museum of them anywhere. I don’t live close to this museum but wish I did, because I’d be visiting tomorrow if I could!
Well, Tami, you’ll have to plan a trip to northern Indiana. 🙂 There are some really cool vintage campers in the museum. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.
Hello Connie! Thank you for documenting this great event to us. Kudos to the organizers who were reliving the past through the antics and rare housecar collections.