Nappanee Walking Tours

Nappanee Walking Tours available June - August

Hit the Pavement in Historic Nappanee Walking Tours

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: Thursday, June - August
​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. 

Homes of the Kitchen Industry

Tour around of Houses built for and by the Men of the Kitchen Industry! Have you ever driven through Nappanee and noticed 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 this historic area where you’ll learn about the Mutschler, Coppes and Zook family homes, the history behind them and the men who built them. Learn what home in Nappanee was designed by well-known architect E. Hill Turnock and find out what home used to be three floors but now only has two. Discover how one home was relocated to make way for Nappanee’s post office and find out which house in Nappanee was the “house the depression” built You will also learn about how Nappanee was once the “kitchen capital of the world.”

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: June 3 and July 22
​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. 

Demolition, Destruction, and Revitalization

Nappanee’s downtown has seen many different looks and businesses over the years. Demolition, Destruction and Revitalization explores the town’s transformation. Find out what building burned to the ground and caused many from surrounding areas to speculate that the entire city would go down in flames. Hear about the Community Building, the largest gym in the county before North Side Gym, and why it was torn down and made into a parking lot. Learn how a “hospital” has seen many faces since its original beginning and about the original uses of some of the most popular businesses in Nappanee. You’ll also learn about Nappanee’s Fire department along the way and how they went from hose cart teams to the Smokey Stovers!

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: June 10 and July 29
​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. 

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!

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: June 17 and August 5
​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 the walking tour!

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: June 24
​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 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.

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: Dates: July 1 and August 12
​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: July 8 and August 19
​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. 

The Architecture of Henry Frazier

New for 2021!

Learn more about the gentleman who designed much of the downtown, homes, and many factories. Henry Frazier started out as a school teacher but soon found his calling in architecture. This tour will highlight his life and the buildings that he has designed and even oversaw the construction. If you have been on any of the Hit the Pavement in Historic Nappanee tours and heard us say it was designed by Henry Frazier but wanted to know more than this tour is for you.

Duration: 1 hour
Dates: July 15 and August 26
​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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