Nappanee Walking Tours

Along Came Nappanee

Have you heard of Locke? Maybe you haven’t and maybe you have. When the B&O Railroad decided to bypass Locke and put the railroad 3 miles south, Nappanee was established. Many businesses and people started to migrate from Locke to Nappanee, Along Came Nappanee explores the feud between the two villages, businesses, and people who moved to Nappanee. Did you know that they would write to Goshen and Wakarusa newspapers about how much they did not like each other, or, well, just too really complain about each other? Locke fought hard to thrive even though they were losing their population quickly to a young Nappanee. Find out more about this feud during the walking tour!

Tour Information
Thursdays, June 4, July 2, July 30, August 27, 2020 at 10am & 7pm

Entrepreneurs, Pioneers and Trailblazers

Nappanee was built on the foundation of trailblazers. If not for those pioneers who happened to be entrepreneurs too, Nappanee would not be what it is today. Entrepreneurs, Pioneers and Trailblazers explores those pioneers. The oldest family owned jewelry store, bakery, Nappanee’s very own telephone company, Elkhart County’s largest general store, and Nappanee’s first hotel are included on this tour, including the men and women behind them. How could a jewelry store that has had 4 generations of owners still be around today? How did Nappanee come to have a telephone company? Where was the first hotel located? What restaurant in Nappanee had the first air conditioning in Indiana? Find out more about these pioneers during the walking tour!

Tour Information
Thursdays, June 11, July 9, August 6, September 3, 2020 at 10am & 7pm

Innovation in Nappanee - NEW

Hoosier Cabinets

Nappanee is a place of thinkers, tinkers and inventors. Innovation in Nappanee walks you through the downtown area were makers where creating things that we still use today, some that are now well-loved collectables. Learn about a Nappanee businessman who was a man of many talents from bicycles to fishing lures. Learn how Coppes revolutionized the kitchen cabinet industry with the creation of the lazy susan. Hear about a telephone company and a bakery and how the owners were leaders of their time because of how they led their business. Come learn about the men and women of Nappanee that were ahead of their time and pushed forward to make the city innovative.

Tour Information
Thursdays, June 18, July 16, August 13, September 10, 2020 at 10am & 7pm
Meet at the Nappanee Public Library, 157 N. Main St

FREE Admission: Meet at the Nappanee Public Library at least 10 minutes prior to the tour. Tips Welcome. For more information call 574.773.7812

Trip Tip: Spend some extra time in downtown Nappanee exploring the unique shops and restaurants.

Helpful Hints:
These are walking tours. Please wear comfortable shoes.
You might want to bring a bottle of water
Tours go rain or shine. If it is calling for rain, you might want to bring an umbrella or wear rain gear
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour’s starting time.

Plays, Opera, Fables, and Frolic - NEW

Nappanee has had its fair share of places of entertainment. Plays, Opera, Fables and Frolic looks at the entertainment of Nappanee in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Learn about the Fairy Theater, The Auditorium, the Community Building and all of the different halls that were at the center of Nappanee’s entertainment. While many are gone, you will find out that the one still around today fits its description of when it opened in 1926. Come learn about what Nappanee residents did to keep themselves busy before the Internet and social media.

Tour Information
Thursdays, June 25, July 23, August 20, September 17, 2020 at 10am & 7pm
Meet at the Nappanee Public Library, 157 N. Main St