MONDAY - After another long and grueling move today we find ourselves in Elkhart, IN which is a full 68-miles east of our previous location.
You may be wondering, what's there to see and do in Elkhart? Well, if you're an RVer you already know that Elkhart has been known for decades as the "RV Capital of the World".
Over 80 percent of the recreational vehicles manufactured "in the world" come out of Elkhart County in Indiana?
That's a lot of RVs!
FYI - Airstreams are all manufactured in Jackson Center, OH
Also here in Elkhart is the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum, RV/MN is short for Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing. Most people think MH stands for Motorhome or Mobile Home, nope it's Manufactured Housing. Just a little FYI for all you smart guys.
As long as you're visiting the museum you're allowed to overnight in the parking lot for FREE, just like at Walmart. The only difference is here the invitation extends out to 2-days and not just the 1-day. That's why we'll be spending the night here tonight and then bright and early tomorrow when the museum opens at 9:00AM we'll be the first in line to purchase our tickets.
They do offer a "parking lot/campground" setting here where you get 30AMP electric with water and a dump station, but for $40 a night I think we'll take a pass and stay for FREE.
TUESDAY - This morning we were the first ones inside the door of the museum, as promised. We spent the next 1½-hours walking around the ground floor of the museum and then Tricia went upstairs where there is an extensive library of RV/MH books you can look through.
The 2nd floor also offered a birdseye balcony view of the museum floor below.
RV/MH HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
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1
OF
27
The only thing you'll find behind all these windows is the Gift Shop!
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2
OF
27
This 1967 camper received a full custom paint job in 2014.
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3
OF
27
Some "famous person" had this Airstream electric guitar made, but we couldn't get close enough to figure out who it was.
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4
OF
27
This custom "one of a kind" 1958 Airstream was the smallest one ever made.
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5
OF
27
This 1939 custom made travel trailer was built for aviator Charles Lindberg.
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6
OF
27
The interior was all made of wood with little aeronautical accents.
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7
OF
27
This is a custom made 1931 Chevrolet House Car built for the actress Mae West.
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8
OF
27
It's not exactly a "camper", more of a very well appointed chauffeur driven limosine.
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9
OF
27
This is a 1931 Model AA Ford Housecar that has been restored.
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10
OF
27
The original bench seat had no backrest, this one was added by the restorers.
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11
OF
27
This is a 1929 Wiedman Housecar which were built in upstate New York.
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12
OF
27
Again, this is not the original driver's seat.
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13
OF
27
This view through the back doors shows the layout of the interior.
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14
OF
27
This 1937 Hunt Housecar is one of several built by Hollywood producer Roy Hunt.
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15
OF
27
This is a 1937 Hayes Motor Home with a fresh coat of paint.
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16
OF
27
The dark cherry wood interior is all completely original.
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17
OF
27
This is a 1954 Yellowstone Travel Trailer with a back door fire escape.
SLIDE NUMBER
18
OF
27
The interior was made using light birch and it had residential style appliances.
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19
OF
27
This "Star Streak II" is one of two all aluminum RVs built by Paul Jones of Cape Coral, FL. Built in 1988 using a Cadillac Eldorado chassis and an Olds Toronado 455 cu. in. engine!
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20
OF
27
The front end definitely presents a late 1970s Cadillac vibe...
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21
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27
...which is also displayed in the rear view too. The 2009 license plate is from FL.
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22
OF
27
If you're an avid follower of the "Keep Your Daydream" YouTube Channel...
SLIDE NUMBER
23
OF
27
...then you know this is Marc and Trisha's 1987 Blue Bird Wanderlodge bus.
SLIDE NUMBER
24
OF
27
The interior was all reupholstered with "Route 66" themed material.
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25
OF
27
How about that late 1980s styled dashboard?
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26
OF
27
In 2022 Marc and Trisha did indeed travel the full Route 66 from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA before donating the bus to the Hall of Fame.
SLIDE NUMBER
27
OF
27
From the second floor balcony you can see most of the RV museum down below.
The only thing you'll find behind all these windows is the Gift Shop!
This 1967 camper received a full custom paint job in 2014.
Some "famous person" had this Airstream electric guitar made,
This custom "one of a kind" 1958 Airstream was the smallest one ever made.
This 1939 custom made travel trailer was built for aviator Charles Lindberg.
The interior was all made of wood with little aeronautical accents.
This is a custom made 1931 Chevrolet House Car built for the actress Mae West.
It's not exactly a "camper", more of a very well appointed chauffeur driven limosine.
This is a 1931 Model AA Ford Housecar that has been restored.
The original bench seat had no backrest, this one was added by the restorers.
This is a 1929 Wiedman Housecar which were built in upstate New York.
Again, this is not the original driver's seat.
This view through the back doors shows the layout of the interior.
This 1937 Hunt Housecar is one of several built by Hollywood producer Roy Hunt.
This is a 1937 Hayes Motor Home with a fresh coat of paint.
The dark cherry wood interior is all completely original.
This is a 1954 Yellowstone Travel Trailer with a back door fire escape.
The interior was made using light birch and it had residential style appliances.
This "Star Streak II" is one of two all aluminum RVs built by Paul Jones of Cape Coral, FL.
The front end definitely presents a late 1970s Cadillac vibe...
...which is also displayed in the rear view too. The 2009 license plate is from FL.
If you're an avid follower of the "Keep Your Daydream" YouTube Channel...
...then you know this is Marc and Trisha's 1987 Blue Bird Wanderlodge bus.
The interior was all reupholstered with "Route 66" themed material.
How about that late 1980s styled dashboard?
In 2022 Marc and Trisha did indeed travel the full Route 66 from
From the second floor balcony you can see most of the RV museum down below.
