Through every woven fiber and twisted thread, fabric is uniquely suited to create a narrative, with every stitch connecting us to new stories and perspectives.

In its first 100 years, the city of South Bend grew to be a hub of science, finance, industry, and transportation.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was a thriving small town in the mid-1860s, with a population of 2,400. On July 1-3, 1863, the Union and the Confederate Armies met there and fought one of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

On May 17, 1924, University of Notre Dame students led hundreds of citizens into downtown South Bend to confront the Ku Klux Klan, leading to a three-day show of resistance against the Klan at the height of its power.

Larger-than-life legends and folklore of the Hoosier state are explored in this exhibit, shown in conjunction with the Indiana Historical Society. Through historic photos and original art by the Braintwins, Indiana Lore traces the roots of Indiana’s tall tales, from the green-eyed ghost of a bulldog guarding a grave at Terre Haute’s Highland Lawn Cemetery to the Grey Lady who lurks in the children’s book section of Evansville’s Willard Library.

Set against the backdrop of Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the legal abolition of slavery, the exhibit showcases local trailblazers in African American culture and history.

Fighting Fear: Pandemics Past and Present, presented in partnership by The History Museum and Saint Mary’s College faculty and students, addresses the fears, prejudices, and resilience of communities as they have faced mass illness. The exhibit is supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Indiana Humanities as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.  

Wedding traditions extending across cultures and throughout time are shared in this vibrant exhibit at The History Museum. Through engaging vignettes that feature photographs, gowns, jewelry, and more, Unveiled: Wedding Traditions showcases the museum’s Historic Clothing Collection as well as items on loan from the community’s diverse populations.

Posters and other artifacts are shown in this exhibit that explores political campaigns through the decades.

Generations of workers and captains of industry have provided a steadfast response from our region to America’s call during military conflicts as well as times of peace. Manufacturing Victory, created and presented by The History Museum and the Studebaker National Museum, chronicles this compelling story in multiple galleries, creating a unique campus experience.

It was 100 years ago, August 18, 1920, that women’s suffrage reached a monumental turning point with ratification of the 19th Amendment, and it is this story being told in the new exhibit, Votes for Women, on view August 15 – August 1, 2021, at The History Museum. This exhibit was written in conjunction with Jamie Wagman, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s College, and her students.

The story of the Oliver family’s successful achievement of the American dream is told in The History Museum’s new exhibit, World Famous: The Olivers and the American Dream, on view until May 9, 2021. The exhibit chronicles the Oliver family, their worldwide business, and the community in which they lived. World Famous: The Olivers and the American Dream is made possible by the generous support of 1st Source Bank, the exhibit’s presenting sponsor, as well as Rose Brick and Visit South Bend Mishawaka.

The History Museum is proud to collaborate with Shakespeare at Notre Dame on Full Circle: Shakespearean Culture at Notre Dame, exploring the past, present, and future of Shakespearean performance, analysis, and culture at the University of Notre Dame. Through costumes, photographs, props, and interactives, the exhibit chronicles the influence of Shakespeare throughout the University’s history, the wide range of Shakespeare productions, and the program’s impact on the Michiana region. It is on view at The History Museum through January 2, 2022.

It was 50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, that U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. This remarkable accomplishment was achieved less than 10 years after President John F. Kennedy challenged the U.S. on May 25, 1961, in his famous speech: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” Going to the moon required innovation, engineering, and an enormous amount of manpower. The craft sent to the moon featured the largest rocket ever built, with the most complicated equipment ever designed, and cost billions of dollars to develop. The equipment needed for the Apollo missions was a marvel of engineering, with every part critical to the program’s success. South Bend’s Bendix Corporation was essential in its development.

During the years of the Great Depression, local teachers decided they could pool their savings and lend to others in need. With that intention, they established the South Bend Teachers Federation Credit Union. It opened for business on October 13, 1931. In time, the organization would become known as Teachers Credit Union. It is that story being told in A Credit to the Community: The TCU Story, now on view through October 27.

The rich history, culture, and art of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi is shared in The History Museum’s vibrant new exhibit, Keepers of the Fire: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, on view April 27, 2019 – January 19, 2020. Keepers of the Fire: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi explores the thriving community through interviews and oral histories, sculpture and beadwork, art and artifacts. The exhibit immerses visitors in the traditions and teachings of the Pokagon Band.

A new day dawned on January 17, 1920, when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution took effect. For the next 13 years—until Prohibition was repealed in 1933—Americans could no longer manufacture, sell, or transport liquors.

“Come one, come all to the greatest show on Earth! See what’s under the big top! Lions and tigers will thrill you! Men and women on the flying trapeze will amaze you! Clowns will entertain you!” The ringmaster’s words were as captivating as the show itself. Like the show, The History Museum’s exhibit about the circus, showcasing area photographs, is sure to please.

Whether costume design, big-screen cinema, or famous film stars are fancied, The History Museum’s traveling exhibit CUT! Costume and the Cinema is a must-see. The exhibit, featuring over 40 costumes worn by stars in 25 films of the past two decades, is open through Sunday, January 6, 2019. CUT! Costume and the Cinema offers a journey through 500 years of fashion history, complete with all of its allure and artistry.

There were the trends: miniskirts and pillbox hats, a la Jackie Kennedy. There were the designers: Givenchy and Oscar de la Renta. There were the happenings: Woodstock and London’s mod look. It all blended to launch one of the most vogue decades of all time. Over 20 pieces of fashion from the 1960s—all from The History Museum’s historic clothing collection—will be on view in The History Museum’s Oliver Mansion.