A light industrial center, once famous for producing over half the brass-band instruments made in America, Elkhart now makes RVs and pharmaceutical products: Drug giant Miles Laboratories was founded here in 1884 and still has a major presence. In many ways it’s a sleepy little Midwest town, home to the energetic little Midwest Museum of American Art (closed Mon.; $1; 574/293-6660), downtown at 429 S. Main Street in a restored bank building.
Northern Indiana is one of the country’s main centers for the manufacture of recreational vehicles, so don’t be surprised to find that Elkhart is home to the RV Hall of Fame (Mon.–Fri. only; free; 574/293-2344 or 800/378-8694), at 801 Benham Avenue, which tells the industry side of the travel trailer/RV/mobile home/manufactured housing story.
