- Home
- Events
- Elkhart County Fair
- Submit Your Event
- Things to Do in June
- Things to Do in July
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Home
- Things To Do
- Attractions
- Quilt Gardens
- Quilt Gardens 15 Year Celebration
- Quilt Gardens Passport
- RV / MH Hall Of Fame & Museum
- Epic Art Adventures
- Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail
- Local & Regional Artists
- Bristol Art
- Goshen Art
- Nappanee Art
- Nappanee Local Art
- Nappanee Art Path
- Middlebury Art
- Middlebury Local Art
- Faces of Middlebury
- Millersburg Art
- Wakarusa Art
- Artist Information
- Seward Johnson
- Heritage Trail
- Driving Tour
- By Season
- Shopping
- Farmers Markets
- Amish Hand Crafted
- Locally Made
- Shop Local
- Flea Markets
- Antiques
- Boutiques
- Online
- Shop Local
- Farmer's Markets & Orchards
- Arts & Culture
- Performing Arts & Theater
- Art Galleries
- Outdoors & Recreation
- Kayaking & Canoeing
- Golf
- Biking & Walking
- Museums & History
- Things To Do With Kids
- Quilt Gardens
- Seward Johnson Sculptures
- Home
- Hotels
- Hotels & Motels
- RV Parks & Campgrounds
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Country Inns
- Cabins
- Group Accomodations
- Home
- Plan
- Deals & Discounts
- Destination Guide
- Trip Ideas
- Gather With Friends
- Walking Tours
- Visitor Center
- Visitor Services
- swimming
- CSCAA
- Indiana Swimming Senior State Championships
- 2022 14U Central Zone National Championships
- Softball
- Area Info
- Amish Culture
- The Amish Lifestyle
- History of our Communities
- History of our Downtowns
- History of our Neighborhoods
- About Elkhart County
- Getting Here
- Exit 92
- Notre Dame
- Weather, Climate & Time Zone
- Maps
- eNewsletter
- Home
- Cities & Towns
- Bristol
- Elkhart
- Restaurants in Elkhart
- Shopping in Elkhart
- Attractions in Elkhart
- Goshen
- Restaurants in Goshen
- Shopping in Goshen
- Attractions in Goshen
- Middlebury
- Restaurants in Middlebury
- Shopping in Middlebury
- Attractions in Middlebury
- Nappanee
- Restaurants in Nappanee
- Shopping in Nappanee
- Attractions in Nappanee
- Shipshewana
- Restaurants in Shipshewana
- Attractions in Shipshewana
- Shopping in Shipshewana
- Wakarusa
- More Info About Elkhart County
History of our Communities
The city of Elkhart sprung up at the conflux of the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers. Business flourished and entrepreneurs built lavish homes like Ruthmere, today a house museum. Railroads ruled in Elkhart’s early history and celebrated at the NYC RR Museum. By mid-1930 Shult began producing travel trailers, leading the way to Elkhart becoming the world’s “RV Capital”.
A historic courthouse anchors downtown Goshen with its Main Street lined with refurbished brick buildings. Mid-town, a fortress-like police booth stands as a monument to the days when John Dillinger was the bane of local bankers. A restored Old Bag Factory houses shops of working artisans while Goshen College influences a lively art scene.
Bristol was home to Indiana’s first consolidated school. The school building is now the Elkhart County Historical Museum. Bristol also boasts the county’s oldest church, and Indiana’s historic gristmill, Bonneyville Mill, just outside the town.
Once, Middlebury’s Main Street was a main route to and from Indianapolis. Today Queen Anne and Gothic Revival homes capture the feeling of bygone days. A town landmark, Krider Gardens, contains vestiges of a 1933 Chicago World’s Fair exhibit.
In 1874 a B&O Railroad route paved the way for Nappanee. Around that same time Amish pioneer, Christian Stahly, came to the area to purchase an 80-acre farm for his son. That farm is now Amish Acres, preserved for visitors to experience the rustic life of the Amish at the turn of the last century.