LaPorte County Historical Society Museum - LaPorte, IN

I never did find information about the building.  It really doesn't look old except some of the concrete on the porch and the wooden doors.  There's so much to see in the museum and the following is just a FEW of the things we found interesting.  You would never several days just to see everything

 

So when you were done brushing your hair, you would remove the hair from the brush and save it in a hair receiver.  The hair would be used to stuff something like a pin cushion.  We've also seen hair art in other museums, mainly museums on coastlines.

1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible

Front and back bar - circa 1920 that was removed from the Long Branch Saloon in LaPorte, IN in 1984

The not so distant past

Handles and spigot on the tub

You might have to click on the photo to enlarge it for reading the information.

I didn't know cows produced fur balls!

I've never seen toy shoes like these before.  Looks like fun!

No information placards on these bikes but they look newer.  Check out the handlebars in the next photo

Nolan saw one of these go into the water in 1980.

Click to enlarge to read about this interesting vehicle

Definitely one of a kind.  It has two engines but only the one on the right is functioning.

First successful front wheel drive auto

Click to enlarge to read this.  Very interesting.  There was a whole display that told the tale in more detail.  The shed on the property was covered in graffiti by people that come to check out the property.  One side of the shed is part of the display.

They never found the head and it is not know if the body was Belle's.

RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum and Library in Elkhart, IN

Read about this museum in RVing magazines and it sounded interesting.

This and the following photos are of a large model explaining the RV production process.   This shows the frame and the large floor components.
 

Looks like this particular manufacturer turned their pull trailer frame upside down and set then on the floor structure.

Next comes the finish flooring - carpet, vinyl, tile, etc.

Then cabinetry is set in place.

Walls are added.

Ceilings are placed, wiring is installed then the roof is put on.

A lot of pull trailer and fifth-wheel roofs have a rubber membrane.

Doors and windows

 

Appliances.  Loved the little refrigerator, microwave and TV models in the back!  Notice the slideouts are now in place.

The boxes even say Dometic on them - our refrigerator and microwave are Dometic products.  Love the refuse bin and chairs.



Furnishings

Final finish

Quality inspection



Still at Quality inspection but this wider photo shows more of the parts.

2015 version of the same camper with modern furnishings and appliances.

Now that would be a tight fit!

On to the hall of historic RVs.

The original slideouts!  Of course they are manual.

Mighty comfy seating, eh?

Can you imagine a wood burning stove in an RV?

 



Yes we could have stepped into some of the RVs but we were afraid we'd hurt them.

Interesting shape isn't it?

Interesting how the furnace just sets out in the open.

Rear door

There was a small lower floor section so people could stand.
 

Tiny second sink in bedroom

Tiny bathroom has toilet on one side with a curtain that could be drawn so you showered in the area by the sink.



One bed below and second bed on loft that was enclosed.  Skinny access area to second bed is located on the left.



This RV has a small tub and a toilet on a platform

This motorhome was pointed in the front and rear

I didn't see a toilet but there was this small area that combined a shower and a fold down sink.

This trailer is huge!

See Nolan standing by the back?

Front living room

The bed was missing.

Of course it needed a one ton truck to pull it.

$35 optional deluxe drivers seat.  LOL  See the hand pump for the sink?

This motorhome has windows most of the way around it.

One of the most unusual motorhomes in the museum

The front and back ends were almost identical

A rolling platform so she could wave at her adoring fans

Interesting rear entry
 

The hitch looks more like that used on a wagon.