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Indiana’s small towns hold some seriously good museums, and a few of them cover subjects you might not expect. One is built around a jail that spins.
Another honors a movie star from a farming town, and one is all about windmills. Some are in old factory headquarters, and one sits on a former military base.
These six stops make easy day trips, and each one gives you a story to tell on the drive home. Hours can change, so check each museum’s website or call before you go.
1. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, Auburn, IN
Few museums can say the building is part of the exhibit, but this one can. It is housed in the old Auburn Automobile Company headquarters, a restored Art Deco showroom at 1600 Wayne St.
Inside, the collection centers on Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles, along with classic muscle cars and early trucks. The vehicles are restored and displayed in the showroom, so you see the cars where the brands once did business.
The museum also covers the history of the three marques, which gives the polished paint some context.
Auburn is a small DeKalb County town of roughly 13,500 residents with deep automotive roots, which makes it a fitting home. The museum lists a theater and a gift shop, offers tours, and has family-friendly appeal.
There is no restaurant on site, so plan your meal around town.
It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, with Saturdays tending to be the busiest and Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings the quietest. Parking options include a free lot and free street parking.
Hours may vary, so check before you go.
2. Rotary Jail Museum, Crawfordsville, IN
Picture a jail where the cells sit in a rotating cage. That is the draw at the Rotary Jail Museum, one of only three rotary jails left in the country, and the one that still works.
Visits are guided tours. You walk through the sheriff’s residence and then the jail itself, where the guide explains the unusual design, including how the cells rotate and the door that lets people in and out.
The museum is at 225 N Washington St in Crawfordsville, a county seat of about 16,000 with a brick-lined downtown square. After the tour, you can browse the gift shop, and the museum holds regular events.
Kids can come along too.
Plan around the schedule, since it is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM, and closed the rest of the week. Parking is free on the street or on site.
Call ahead or check the website to confirm hours.
3. Grissom Air Museum, Peru, IN
Climbing a control tower and sitting in a cockpit are both on the menu at Grissom Air Museum. It is an aviation museum that lets visitors get hands-on rather than just look.
The collection mixes Air Force, Navy, and Bulgarian aircraft, with an informational placard in front of each plane. A large static display of aircraft sits outdoors, so bring weather-appropriate clothes.
Guided tours are available by reservation for groups of 10 or more, with guides who walk you through the history of each plane. Active military discounts are offered, and the museum is family-friendly with a gift shop and restrooms.
There is no restaurant on site.
You will find it at 1000 W Hoosier Blvd in Peru, a Miami County community of about 11,000 along the Wabash River. Hours are daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, though they may vary, so check before you go.
4. Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville, IN
Road trip tip: bring a good pair of walking shoes, because this museum spreads across both indoor and outdoor spaces. The Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville focuses on historic windmills and the history of wind power.
Self-guided audio tours use numbered recordings that match stations inside and outside. Parking attendants and clearly lit paths help make it comfortable for families, and the Christmas light show is a seasonal draw for visitors with kids.
The museum also works as a scenic event venue for weddings. A theater and gift shop are on site, and restrooms are available.
There is no restaurant, so eat before or after.
You will find it at 732 S Allen Chapel Rd, in a Noble County town of about 10,200. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 4 PM, closed Mondays.
Hours may vary, so confirm before you head out.
5. The James Dean Museum, Fairmount, IN
The world’s largest collection of James Dean memorabilia sits in a farming town of about 2,600 people. Fairmount has a quiet Main Street district, and the museum at 104 N Main St is the anchor of a visit.
The exhibits include personal and professional artifacts, film props, motorcycles, and art created by Dean himself. Local historical exhibits round things out, so you also learn about Fairmount.
Volunteers and staff give tours and share details about the exhibits and the town. A gift shop is on site, restrooms are available, and children are welcome.
There is no restaurant, but the town’s Main Street is right outside.
The museum is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Parking is on site.
Hours may vary, so check before you go.
6. Ernie Pyle World War II Museum, Dana, IN
Dana has fewer than 600 residents, yet it is home to a museum about one of the best-known journalists of World War II. Ernie Pyle was a wartime correspondent loved by GIs and Americans back home.
The museum is small and focused on his life and work. Tour guides recount his columns and stories from memory, which gives the visit a storytelling feel.
The guides also share knowledge about Dana and the war.
It is off the beaten path at 120 Briarwood Ave, in a tiny agricultural village. A gift shop and restrooms are on site, and the museum is good for kids.
There is no restaurant, so pack a snack.
Hours are limited, with the museum open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM, and closed Monday through Thursday. Parking is free.
Check before you go, since hours may vary.
