Nappanee Walking Tours

Along Came Nappanee

Have you heard of Locke? Probably not because when the B&O Railroad decided to bypass Locke and put the railroad in three miles south, the city of Nappanee was born. Many businesses and people started to migrate from Locke to Nappanee. Along Came Nappanee explores the feud between these two cities, the business and people who moved their families from Locke to Nappanee and more. Duration: 1 hour

Date: August 27th
Times: 10:00 am and 7:00 pm 
Starting location: Nappanee Public Library, 157 North Main Street.

• Face masks are required 
• Registration is mandatory and can be achieved by emailing nappaneehistory@nappaneelibrary.org or call 574-773-7919 to reserve your spot (space is limited to 8 people) 
• Meet outside of the Library. There will be signs that direct you where to meet. 

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 our virtual walking tour! 

Date: August 6th and September 3
​Times: 10:00 am and 7:00 pm 
Starting location: Nappanee Public Library, 157 North Main Street.

• Face masks are required 
• Registration is mandatory and can be achieved by emailing nappaneehistory@nappaneelibrary.org or call 574-773-7919 to reserve your spot (space is limited to 8 people) 
• Meet outside of the Library. There will be signs that direct you where to meet. 

Innovation in Nappanee

Nappanee residents were thinks, tinkers and inventors, ahead of their time pushing forward to make the city innovative. Innovation in Nappanee walks you through the downtown area where makers were creating things that we still use today.

Learn about a businessman with many talents from bicycles to fishing lures and how Coppes revolutionized he kitchen cabinet industry and more.

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: August 13 and September 10
​Times: 10:00 am and 7:00 pm 
Starting location: Nappanee Public Library, 157 North Main Street.

• Face masks are required 
• Registration is mandatory and can be achieved by emailing nappaneehistory@nappaneelibrary.org or call 574-773-7919 to reserve your spot (space is limited to 8 people) 
• Meet outside of the Library. There will be signs that direct you where to meet. 

Plays, Opera, Fables and Frolic

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.

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: August 10 and September 17
​Times: 10:00 am and 7:00 pm 
Starting location: Nappanee Public Library, 157 North Main Street.

• Face masks are required 
• Registration is mandatory and can be achieved by emailing nappaneehistory@nappaneelibrary.org or call 574-773-7919 to reserve your spot (space is limited to 8 people) 
• Meet outside of the Library. There will be signs that direct you where to meet. 

Virtual Nappanee Walking Tours

Demolition, Destruction and Revitalization

Nappanee’s downtown has seen many different looks and businesses over the years. Demolition, Destruction and Revitalizing explores the town’s disasters by fire, tearing down, and what is being done with some of the older buildings in town. Find out more during our virtual walking tour.

Demolition, Destruction and Revitalization - https://tinyurl.com/u64unmb

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 our virtual walking tour! 

Entrepreneurs, Pioneers, and Trailblazers - https://tinyurl.com/raqnc7l

Homes of the Kitchen Industry

Ever drive through Nappanee and notice some of the beautiful homes that are speckled along US 6 in the Historic East District? Ever wonder what their stories are and who built them? Homes of the Kitchen Industry takes you through Nappanee’s Historic East District and you will learn about the Mutschler, Coppes and Zook family homes and the history behind them and the men who built them. Find out more during our virtual walking tour!

Homes of the Kitchen Industry - https://tinyurl.com/tq6slpn

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