Historical Markers and War Memorials in Elkhart, Indiana
Goshen is the county seat for Elkhart County
Elkhart is in Elkhart County
Elkhart County(82) ► ADJACENT TO ELKHART COUNTY Kosciusko County(39) ► LaGrange County(15) ► Marshall County(29) ► Noble County(25) ► St. Joseph County(91) ► Cass County, Michigan(44) ► St. Joseph County, Michigan(55) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
On W. Franklin Street, 0 miles west of S. 5th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Born in Ohio 1842; family moved to Kosciusko County, Indiana 1846. Bierce lived and worked in Elkhart 1860-1861. Union officer wounded in Civil War. Moved to California 1866; became nationally prominent as journalist, short story writer, and critic. . . . — — Map (db m44852) HM
On S. Main St at Harrison St, on the right when traveling south on S. Main St.
Bucklen Opera House
1884 - 1986
Main and Harrison Streets
Commissioned by: Herbert E. Bucklen
Architect: Unknown
General Contractor: Unknown
The Bucklen Opera House, built in 1884 on the northwest corner of Main and Harrison . . . — — Map (db m64642) HM
On East Jackson Boulevard at Elkhart Avenue, on the left when traveling east on East Jackson Boulevard.
Side One:
Charles Gerard Conn began the musical instrument industry in Elkhart; city has been called the Band Industry Capital of the World. By 1874 producing rubber mouthpiece; was granted patent 1875; began producing musical . . . — — Map (db m30747) HM
On South 2nd Street at West High Street, on the right when traveling north on South 2nd Street.
Born in Ohio, 1925, Gordone grew up in Elkhart and graduated from Elkhart High School in 1944. In the 1950s, he moved to New York City where he worked as an actor, director, and playwright. During the 1960s, he acted in the award-winning . . . — — Map (db m32734) HM
On E. Beardsley Ave at Grove St, on the right when traveling east on E. Beardsley Ave.
A Miles Laboratories research team led by Alfred and Helen Free developed the first diagnostic test strip, Clinistix(R), for detecting glucose in urine. Reagent-impregnated strips changed color based on the concentration of glucose. This . . . — — Map (db m64643) HM
On W. Franklin Street at S. 4th Street, on the left when traveling west on W. Franklin Street.
Side one:
Born circa 1845 in Ohio. Graduated from Rush Medical College 1874. Moved medical practice from Chicago to Elkhart 1875. Began The Dr. Miles Medical Company 1885 to sell Dr. Miles' Nervine, Restorative Nerve and Liver pills, and . . . — — Map (db m44877) HM
On South 2nd Street at West High Street, on the left when traveling north on South 2nd Street.
(Side one):
Added many buildings to the architectural significance of Elkhart, Goshen, and Nappanee. Born mid-1850s in England; his family moved to Elkhart early 1870s. In mid-1880s he moved to Chicago; worked until 1890 with architect . . . — — Map (db m32728) HM
On S. 2nd Street at W. High Street, on the right when traveling north on S. 2nd Street.
Elkhart Carnegie Public Library
1903-1963
Second and High Streets
Local Financial Supporters: A.H. Beardsley, G.B. Pratt, Sr. And the City of Elkhart
Head Librarian: Katherine Sage
In February 1901, backed by a promise from . . . — — Map (db m75445) HM
Near Middlebury Street at Grace Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
(Front (West) Panel)
Erected A.D. 1909, by the Ex-Soldiers and Sailors Association Elkhart Indiana
To the memory of our departed heroes of the Union Army. Their services to a grateful country were gallant and self sacrificing. May . . . — — Map (db m76220) WM
On S. 2nd Street at W. High Street, on the left when traveling north on S. 2nd Street.
Erected by
The William Tuffs Chapter
National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
In Honor of the Revolutionary Soldiers
Buried in Elkhart County
William Tuffs • Walter Denny • John Proctor • Jacob Leer • John R. . . . — — Map (db m75444) WM
On S. 2nd Street at W. High Street, on the left when traveling north on S. 2nd Street.
Elkhart High School was designed and built to match the existing Central School Building (bottom photo), creating a unified pair of buildings covering the whole block of High St. between Second and Third Streets.
Central School became a . . . — — Map (db m75446) HM
Near South Elkhart Avenue south of Nibco Parkway, on the right when traveling north.
Dams have been used throughout the United States for a variety of reasons such as flood control and power generation. However, dams can greatly impact a river's ecology in three major ways: fish migration, habitat destruction, and water . . . — — Map (db m236150) HM
Near East Jackson Boulevard east of Marine Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
The old Indian trail which followed the Elkhart River, turned here to the northwest, and connected the “Miamis Fort” with “Fort St. Joseph”.
From the time of the French and Indian War in 1755 to 1763, up to the settlement of this section in . . . — — Map (db m200295) HM
East from this point, along the "Elkheart" River were located the wharves where produce and merchandise to and from the village of "Elkheart", 1835 to 1851, was carried by Keel and Steamboat. — — Map (db m61185) HM
Near Nibco Parkway just south of East Lexington Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Elkhart’s rise as an early industrialized community can be tied directly to its rivers and the power they provided. Water flowing through a system of dams and raceways, known as hydraulics, generated the power for many types of industry.
In . . . — — Map (db m236109) HM
On W. Beardsley Avenue west of N. Riverside Drive, on the left when traveling west.
In Honor of
Havilah Beardsley.
1795 – 1856
First physician of this township who purchased Section five of the Indians in 1829, and in 1832 laid out the original plat of Elkhart. Built the first saw mill in 1831; the first flour . . . — — Map (db m73147) HM
Island Park was given to the City of Elkhart in the Year 1887 by James Rufus Beardsley
It has been passed down through early Indian legions that the form of this island resembled an elk's heart - it is very probable, that from this source . . . — — Map (db m69774) HM
On Prairie Street at Chapman Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Prairie Street.
Elkhart became a major center for the Mennonite church after John and Salome Funk moved here from Chicago in 1867. He was founding pastor of Prairie Street Mennonite Church at this location in 1871. His Mennonite Publishing Company connected . . . — — Map (db m236149) HM
On Riverview Avenue south of Superior Street, on the left when traveling south.
This memorial is dedicated to the life of Lou Criger
Born in Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 6, 1872 to Charles J. and Lovina Stutsman Criger, the city's first major leaguer was known as one of the best catchers of his day and caught most of Cy Young's . . . — — Map (db m67096) HM
Main St. Memorial Bridge
1917 • Dedicated • 1918
To the Sons of Elkhart County
Who Died in the World War
Fravel Edward Alleman • Charles O. Anderson • Eugene J. Badina • John H. Berkey • Fred Leroy Bloom • Merrill Charles Bloss • . . . — — Map (db m73150) WM
Near E. Beardsley Avenue at Grove Street, on the left when traveling east.
Erected by Albert R. Beardsley
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places November 28, 1978 by the United States Department of the Interior in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic . . . — — Map (db m76259) HM
Near James Street at Blazer Boulevard, on the right when traveling north.
(Top Front Panel)
Lieut. Frank Baldwin
Killed in battle at Stone River
December 31st, 1862.
Aged 18 yrs.
(Bottom Front Panel)
Erected by Silas Baldwin in honor of the heroes who fought and the martyrs who fell in the . . . — — Map (db m76256) WM
Near W. Beardsley Avenue at N. Main Street, on the right when traveling west.
The Havilah Beardsley
House
102 West Beardsley Avenue
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1848 — — Map (db m76261) HM
Near Williams Lane, 0.4 miles east of County Road 3.
An Icy Beginning
Millions of years ago Elkhart was covered by glaciers. The Glaciers moved south, eroding the land collecting glacial drift.
9,000 BC
The glaciers eventually began to retreat north, leaving behind their glacial . . . — — Map (db m68532) HM
Near Nibco Parkway just north of South Clark Street, on the right when traveling south.
Here in Elkhart, raceways along the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers powered a series of early mills and factories in the 1800's. The last water-powered mill ran until 1955.
🅐 The headrace, formerly located on this site, ran parallel . . . — — Map (db m236110) HM
The Early Inhabitants of the Valley
Centuries before the area was settled by whites, at least two different native tribes inhabited the St Joseph Valley.
The Miami
The Miami were the first recorded tribe known to have lived in . . . — — Map (db m69777) HM
Near Riverwalk Drive south of East Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling north.
Transporting Goods on the Rivers
Long before the railroad came to the area, the settlers relied on the rivers to transport their products to other markets. This area was fortunate to have two navigable rivers. The smaller Elkhart River flowed . . . — — Map (db m236112) HM
Near Pacific Street, 0.1 miles west of N. Elkhart Boulevard, on the right when traveling west.
The Hydraulics
Elkhart's early development as an industrial city can be attributed to its proximity to several waterways. Before the advent of electric power, the early industry pioneers harnessed the power of the river flow to provide the . . . — — Map (db m69752) HM
Near Pacific Street west of N. Elkhart Avenue. Reported unreadable.
Island Park
The island formed by the confluence of the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers could be said to be the birthplace of our community. According to folklore, the Native Americans living in the area named the Elkhart River, . . . — — Map (db m200294) HM
Near Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80), on the right when traveling west.
Born 1 December 1969 Killed in the line of duty on the Indiana Toll Road St. Joseph County 4 March 1999 Served the Indiana State Police from 13 December 1998 to 4 March 1999 — — Map (db m88601) HM
On E. Beardsley Avenue east of Montessori Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Pulaski post office established here 1829. Fort Wayne Road, to Chicago-Detroit Road and Niles, forded the river at this point. Village of Elkhart was laid out in 1832 and post office name changed to Elkhart in 1839. — — Map (db m69729) HM
