Elkhart County Historical Museum

10/30/2026

🏈📖 Did you watch the Green Bay Packers game this week? Ninety years ago, Elkhart County resident Millard Crofoot (1908-1978), an electrical engineer for the New York Central and Penn Central Railroads, did just that by taking paid leave from work to attend a game featuring the Packers and the Chicago Bears on November 1, 1936 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Packers won the game 21-10 with 31,346 spectators in attendance.

🔎✅ We can verify this information because Crofoot, who retired in 1973, kept detailed log books from 1912-1943 during his employment with the railroad. You can view one of Crofoot’s logbooks in person by visiting our temporary exhibit Everyday People | Everyday Objects, currently available on display until the end of the year. We have also included a snapshot of Crofoot’s entries for the entire month of November 1936 attached to this post. The ECHM is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

10/29/2026

Thanks, ABC57, for helping get the word out about our upcoming Día de los Mu***os event this Sunday, November 1.

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Historical Museum is hosting its third annual community ofrenda and Dia de Los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, celebration. This gives people a chance to honor their loved ones who have passed away and experience the Mexican tradition.

10/28/2026

The museum is currently experiencing a power outage so please postpone your visit at this time. We will post again when we are back online! ⚡

10/27/2026

Today, our community partners helped set up the ofrendas for our Día de los Mu***os event this weekend. Come party with us on Sunday, November 1, from 1 pm to 4 pm.!

Cub Scout Pack 797
Purdue Extension Elkhart County 4-H Juntos

10/26/2026

Tierra Viva Mexican Folkloric Dance Group returns this year for our Día de los Mu***os Family Celebration!

Watch them for FREE with us on Sunday, November 1st. Event goes from 1-4pm, performances start at 1:30. For more info click the link in the comments.

10/24/2026

This Monday will be the last chance of the year to learn from our Curator of Collections about how to care for important family heirlooms in your home and preserve them for future generations. Come check it out!

✨ Celebrate Family History month with us on Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. at a presentation on Preserving Your Family Treasures from Michelle Nash of the Elkhart County Historical Museum.

Her presentation will help you start thinking about preservation and share tips related to photographs, beloved family textiles, important papers, and other collectibles.

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✨ Celebre con nosotros el Mes de la Historia Familiar el lunes 26 de octubre a las 6:30 p.m., con una presentación titulada Cómo Preservar Los Tesoros de Su Familia, por Michelle Nash del Museo Histórico del Condado de Elkhart.

Su presentación le ayudará a comenzar a pensar en la conservación de sus tesoros familiares y le ofrecerá consejos sobre cómo preservar fotografías, textiles familiares muy queridos, documentos importantes y otras coleccionables.

10/23/2026

Join us tonight or tomorrow night at Ox Bow for Halloween Hayrides. The Museum team will be sharing Spooky Stories at the Chapel shelter.

The weather looks perfect for a night of Halloween fun! Join us at Ox Bow County Park tonight or tomorrow night for our Halloween Campfire & Hayrides from 7-10pm both nights.

-$5/person (2 & under are free)

- Hayrides
- Food trucks
- Spooky stories
- Cemetery walks
- Music by The Dawg Band
- Creative Face Painting by Diana
- Elkhart Public Library Book Bus
- Live performances of Thriller by Epic Dance Studios
- Touch-A-Truck
- Kid's activities
- Haunted House by Texas Roadhouse (Sat only)
- Candy
- And more!!

Thanks to our sponsor Interra Credit Union

10/22/2026

📸🏙 Welcome back to Throwback Thursday with Michael, longtime volunteer at the ECHM! Today, we’re comparing and contrasting images of the Middlebury Street Bridge over the Elkhart River in Elkhart County, Indiana. The first snapshot was taken on Memorial Day in 1910, the day the Soldier’s Monument for the Civil War was dedicated in Elkhart. The interurban trolley tracks appear in the foreground. Michael took the second image to showcase the location’s appearance in more recent times.

10/20/2026

Gather up your favorite preschooler(s)!

Curiosity Club returns this week on Wednesday (10/21) at 10am. This month, we'll be learning all about LIBRARIES!📚

Join us for a craft, snack, story, and scavenger hunt! We meet at the Museum at 10am, and will walk across the street to Bristol Public Library about halfway through the program!

Sign up for $4/child at the link in the comments!

10/16/2026

💀Mark your calendars!

Celebrate Día de los Mu***os with us this November 1st.

Bring the whole family to experience:
💃🏾🎶Performances from Tierra Viva Mexican Folkloric Dance Group and ECoSistema Music
💀admire ofrendas
🎨get a design from Creative Face Painting by Diana
✂create beautiful arts & crafts
💀find hidden sugar skulls in a scavenger hunt
📕get a free book from Elkhart Public Library
🫔eat delicious traditional Mexican foods
And more!

This event has free entry! Tamales, flautas, and beverages will be available for purchase.

Thank you to our sponsors and donors for this year's event: Bristol American Legion Post 143, Centier Bank, Key Bank, Panaderia hernandez , and Camille's Floral.