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Exhibits

Indiana Lore

June 3, 2023 – May 12, 2024

Changing Gallery

Larger-than-life legends and folklore of the Hoosier state are explored in this exhibit, shown in conjunction with the Indiana Historical Society. Through historic photos and original art by the Braintwins, Indiana Lore traces the roots of Indiana’s tall tales, from the green-eyed ghost of a bulldog guarding a grave at Terre Haute’s Highland Lawn Cemetery to the Grey Lady who lurks in the children’s book section of Evansville’s Willard Library. These mysterious and mesmerizing campfire stories spark our imaginations and illuminate another side of Hoosier history. Featured are stories from the St. Joseph River Valley, like that of Hazel McNalley, accused of murdering her children, who she claimed had been only dolls. As you peruse the exhibit, see if you can tell truth from myth, and learn how legends and lore can help us understand the world around us.

Turning Point: The Battle of Gettysburg, 1863

July 1, 2023 – July 7, 2024

Carroll Gallery

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was a thriving small town in the mid-1860s, with a population of 2,400. On July 1-3, 1863, the Union and the Confederate Armies met there and fought one of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Known as the turning point of the Civil War, the three-day battle claimed over 50,000 lives.

The New Century of Progress

August 26, 2023 – June 16, 2024

Carroll Gallery

In its first 100 years, the city of South Bend grew to be a hub of science, finance, industry, and transportation. Learn about the area’s second century of innovative advances in the exhibit The New Century of Progress, which explores 1920 through the present.

University of Notre Dame: The Fabric of a Global University

February 12, 2022 – July 28, 2024

Through every woven fiber and twisted thread, fabric is uniquely suited to create a narrative, with every stitch connecting us to new stories and perspectives. The History Museum is proud to collaborate with Notre Dame International on an exhibit that showcases the University’s rich and vibrant fabric, and highlights stories on international education, research, and engagement worldwide.

Undesign the Redline

December 9, 2023 - July 14, 2024

Link Hallway

Redlining was a practice used to deny predominantly African American families from building and buying homes in certain neighborhoods, essentially segregating areas throughout the country, including South Bend. Undesign the Redline, an exhibit commissioned by the City of South Bend and developed by Designing the We, chronicles redlining and explores its negative impact on communities.

Rosemary Sanders: The Invisible Player

July 15 – July 14, 2024

Link Hallway

Chronicled is the story of Rosemary Sanders, the first African American musician to play in the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. An outstanding concert violinist, she auditioned and was accepted into the South Bend Symphony in the early 1940s.

Italian Americans of Northern Indiana: Humble Beginnings to Community Pillars

Opening October 7, 2023

Education Case

Italians began migrating to the St. Joseph River Valley in the 1880s, where many found jobs in local industries. Despite all odds and hardships, many rose to positions of prominence, progressing through hard work, family values, and religion.

Colfax: Speaker for Freedom

Permanent Exhibit

Voyages Gallery

Schuyler Colfax is undoubtedly the most notable political figure in the history of the St. Joseph River Valley. In the year that commemorates the 200th anniversary of his 1823 birth, The History Museum proudly opened a new exhibit, Colfax: Speaker for Freedom. Colfax was an ardent abolitionist and is best known for his roles as Speaker of the House under Abraham Lincoln and Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. He was instrumental in many political achievements, including the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. Colfax was well-loved in his time, traveling across the U.S. as a much sought-after touring lecturer. His legacy lives on through the dozens of counties, cities, and streets named in his honor across the country. 

Unseen Treasures of the Oliver Mansion

Permanent Exhibit

Leighton Gallery

Items from the Oliver Mansion that aren’t normally seen on a house tour are on display in this permanent exhibit.

First in their Field: The Story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

Permanent Exhibit

The AAGPBL was an all-female league started in 1943 by Chicago Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate Philip K. Wrigley. With teams throughout the Midwest, the league remained active until 1954. As the national repository for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, The History Museum is proud to tell the story that honors the legacy of these inspiring women who played baseball at the highest level.

Voyages: The History of the St. Joseph Valley Region

Permanent Exhibit

Through seven rooms of life-like dioramas and interactive displays, Voyages tells the compelling story of the people of the St. Joseph River Valley.

The Mary Jane Clark Miniature Lamp Collection

Permanent Exhibit

This display of miniature lamps features over 250 items displayed in eight mirrored cases.

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