Quaint Small Towns in Indiana’s Cool North
Posted on January 15, 2025 by Dina Miller
Indiana's Cool North is home to charming small towns that offer a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Towns with Amish heritage, and Indiana Dune communities with scenic beauty, attract visitors with their quaint shops, peaceful streets, and welcoming atmospheres. Perfect for your getaway, whether you seek relaxation or adventure!
Indiana's Cool North Museums – Discover a Rich Past and Lively Present
History has left its mark here, and our museums bring that past to life.
South Bend has a complex of museums, including The History Museum, displaying how the J.D. Oliver family made plows that greatly influenced agriculture in Indiana and throughout the world. Tour their Victorian mansion and a worker’s cottage both at the site. The Kidsfirst Children’s Museum gives youngsters a chance to find out what it was like to learn in a one-room schoolhouse. The stunning Studebaker National Museum is next door where you can see Conestoga a wagon as well as the carriage that took Abraham Lincoln to his fatal night at Ford’s Theatre. South Bend’s newest museum is Indiana Dinosaur Museum, which explores the ancient world of dinosaurs.
Hall of Heroes SuperHero Museum in Elkhart has a collection of comic books and super hero figures from favorite TV and films. The RVMV Hall of Fame, also in Elkhart, shows eight decades of RV and Mobile Home models, including Charles Lindberg’s travel trailer. Learn more about the area’s Amish-Mennonite story at Menno Hof.
Historical Museums in Porter County and LaPorte County show more history of our area. Lake County’s “Grand Old Lady” Courthouse now houses the Lake County Historical Museum. Hesston Steam Museum not only displays the history of railroads, but also offers train rides.
