Exhibits

Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses

June 22, 2024 – July 20, 2025

Changing Gallery

Dollhouses have captivated us and been part of our culture for years. Decorating their interiors and designing their exteriors is just part of our fascination with these miniature houses. Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses chronicles their history from as far back as the 1700s, when some showed the wealth of European manors while others taught medieval children how to keep house. This exhibit showcases over 20 dollhouses, including Barbie’s Dream House, a handmade “Mouse Mansion,” a house built to teach fire safety and even the Studebaker family’s dollhouse!

We are grateful to our sponsors for their generous support:

Notre Dame Federal Credit Union

Melanie Sanchez-Jones & Steve Jones

Hayes Family Foundation

Aimee & Patrick Matthews

Mary Ann Matthews-Derda

Colleen Matthews Katranis

City and Campus: Rediscovering Lost Landmarks

December 7, 2024 – December 31, 2025
Raclin Gallery of Notre Dame History

Explore the changing skyline of the campuses of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College as well as the city of South Bend in this exhibit inspired by the book City and Campus, authored by the late John W. Stamper and published by Notre Dame Press.

Traditions & Progress: Italian Americans in Northern Indiana

October 19, 2024 - May 4, 2025
Carroll Gallery

Italians began migrating to the St. Joseph River Valley in the 1880s, where many found jobs in local industries. Despite all odds and hardships, many rose to positions of prominence, progressing through hard work, family values, and religion.

Fantastic Facial Hair

July 20, 2024 – April 13, 2025
Link Hallway

Beards, mustaches, and other forms of facial hair vary widely, depending on cultures and time periods in history. From the Old Dutch that became popular in the mid-1800s to the Handlebar that was seen frequently from the late 1800s to the 1920s to the Pencil that was sported from the 1920s-1960s, facial hair has changed frequently, fearlessly, and sometimes, frenetically from one decade to the next. The exhibit chronicles the styles and the ways people have seemingly embraced them, proudly sporting their facial furniture, from the handsome to the outright ridiculous.

Permanent Exhibit

Voyages Gallery

Schuyler Colfax is undoubtedly the most notable political figure in the history of the St. Joseph River Valley. In the year that commemorates the 200th anniversary of his 1823 birth, The History Museum proudly opened a new exhibit, Colfax: Speaker for Freedom. Colfax was an ardent abolitionist and is best known for his roles as Speaker of the House under Abraham Lincoln and Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. He was instrumental in many political achievements, including the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. Colfax was well-loved in his time, traveling across the U.S. as a much sought-after touring lecturer. His legacy lives on through the dozens of counties, cities, and streets named in his honor across the country.

Unseen Treasures of the Oliver Mansion

Permanent Exhibit

Leighton Gallery

Items from the Oliver Mansion that aren’t normally seen on a house tour are on display in this permanent exhibit.

Permanent Exhibit

The AAGPBL was an all-female league started in 1943 by Chicago Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate Philip K. Wrigley. With teams throughout the Midwest, the league remained active until 1954. As the national repository for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, The History Museum is proud to tell the story that honors the legacy of these inspiring women who played baseball at the highest level.