Mobile homes and RVs are a staple vehicle to many travelers, but few know their origin. In the trailer capital of the world, Elkhart, Indiana, nearly all of the manufacturers of MH/RVs started right here! At the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museums, you can travel through the history of mobile travel in the very city it all began in. The museum is a whopping 164,000 square feet that opened to the public in 2007. Here, RV stands for Recreational Vehicle and MH stands for Manufactured Housing.
Elkhart began as a rural city until local Milo Miller built his own trailer for business trips in 1931. He soon began to make and sell other trailers, eventually gaining the attention of Wilbur Schult in 1936. Schult took Miller’s small company and turned it into one of the largest trailer manufacturers in the world. Word spread that the trailer business was booming in Elkhart, drawing in hundreds of suppliers of parts for RVs over the next several years.
The RV and MH Museums are located on the first floor and include three halls: The RV Founders Hall, Exhibitors Hall, and Go RVing Hall. The self-guided tour starts with a short movie overview in a theatre, detailing the history of how Elkhart became the trailer capital.
In the RV Founders Hall, guests are led down a makeshift road lined by RVs that date back to the 1920’s. Technological advancements are shown in chronological order along with photos and other memorabilia. Many of the RVs are open for exploration. However, some units are roped off due to their age, rarity, and fragility.
There are more than 60 vintage RVs to see. Classic early vehicles such as a 1913 Earl Trailer and Model T Ford, believed to be the oldest non-tent travel trailer ever, are at the forefront of the road of RV history. Another mentionable vehicle is Mae West’s 1931 Chevrolet Housecar that was built as a gift from Paramount Studios when she left vaudeville to make movies for them in 1931.
In a separate wing, the history of the mobile home is explored. The section begins with a chronological history walk through and features three of today’s largest manufacturers. Three brand new, fully furnished and decorated manufactured homes are on-site that guests can check out. Finally, a set of interactive displays leads guests to the possible future of mobile homes in an otherworldly step into a mobile home colony on Mars.
In the Exhibitors Hall, the history and products of local parts manufacturers and service providers to the RV and MH industry are on display. In the GoRVing Hall, modern day mobile homes are on display that feature the contemporary amenities that can be offered for life on the road.
On the second floor, a library and photos of Hall of Fame members stands as a reminder of how far the industry has come. Nearly 500 manufacturers, developers, and parts suppliers are recognized. On August 18th, the Hall of Fame will celebrate a new group of inductees.
For the Summer season, the museum is open April 1st through November 1st, Monday through Saturday 9AM – 5PM and Sunday 10AM – 3PM. Tickets for adults are $20, seniors $15, children 6 or older $12, and children under 5 are free. They also offer group and family discounts.