History of Kokomo, Indiana
things have gone into shaping our society as we know it today, but
nothing has affected our society and culture as deeply as the
invention and development of the automobile.
Indiana has a rich history that revolves around the American
automobile and the Automotive Heritage Museum pays tribute to this
heritage. Kokomo is home of the Haynes, “America’s First
Car” and many products were, and continue to be, developed and
manufactured in Kokomo to support the auto industry.
1892, inventor Elwood Haynes designed his plans for a motorized
"horseless carriage." In 1893 he began building, with
the help of the Apperson brothers, America's first gasoline
powered car. The car, named the Pioneer was successfully
road tested on July 4, 1894. The Pioneer is now housed in
the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C.
1898, the Haynes-Apperson Automobile Company opened in Kokomo. It
was the first automotive plant in Indiana. By 1923, there were
over 61 different companies in Kokomo producing automotive
components that were shipped worldwide and over 76,000 automobiles
were built in Kokomo. The Maxwell Automobile Company eventually
became Chrysler and Crosley became Delco Electronics, a division
of General Motors. Today both DaimlerChrysler and Delphi
continue to develop automotive components in Kokomo.
the Automotive Heritage Museum displays over 100 antique and
classic autos representing dozens of makes and models. Included
are displays of automobile components and accessories such as
Kingston Carburetors, Delco Radios and many other auto related
products that were manufactured in Kokomo since 1894, thus
preserving Kokomo’s unique and important automotive
Automotive Heritage Museum is considered by many to be one of
Indiana’s finest attractions. During its first year in
operation, visitors from over 24 foreign countries and 45 states
came to view the automobiles and related displays thereby
demonstrating the museum’s potential as a tourist destination.
first-class Automotive Heritage Museum and the affiliated
Johanning Civic Center are indeed, beneficial regional assets,
needed to enhance tourism, economic development and educational
enrichment throughout North central Indiana.
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