$1.5 Million Manufactured Home Museum to be Built in Elkhart, Indiana
From their travel trailer/mobile home beginnings, manufactured homes have evolved into today’s modern quality housing that is equal, and often superior in every respect to conventional site-built homes, with a cost up to 50% less.
Though the metal trailers of yore bear little resemblance to the energy-efficient manufactured homes of today, outdated attitudes and judgments still remain, although somewhat abated, as the manufactured housing industry has made strides in informing about the past, present, and future value of manufactured housing. The history of today’s manufactured home evolution will soon be on display in Elkhart, Indiana, where most agree is the birthplace of what is now the manufactured housing industry
According to a news release reported on December 2, 2020, by The Goshen News, manufactured homes will soon have a place in the spotlight. The RV/MH Heritage Foundation passed a motion at its November board meeting to build a $1.5 million Manufactured Home Museum.
According to Darryl Searer, president of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, the new 20,000 square-foot museum will be built as a wing on the northeast side of the existing RV/MH Hall of Fame.
Public Museum Will Celebrate History and Insight Into Futuristic Manufactured Homes
The entire space will be dedicated to showcasing the manufactured housing industry and will include exhibits, interactive displays, historical artifacts, and generational manufactured houses for the public to view and tour, foundation officials stated in a news release Wednesday. There will be dedicated areas for children to experience the industry.
“This will be a state-of-the-art museum and create a masterpiece in the manufactured home industry,” Searer said. “As a birthplace, Elkhart will now have claim to the pinnacle of manufactured home museums to celebrate the industry.”
Board member Jim Scoular., stated, “The museum will celebrate the history of our industry, showcase the homes of today and provide a window of insight into futuristic mobile and modular housing.”
The museum will house an educational area for everyone to learn about affordable non-subsidized housing, according to the news release, and families can view displays that will provide insight into all aspects of the industry.
The MH Museum is exploring a fast track to completion. Final plans are expected Feb 15, 2021, with construction starting April 15, 2021. And completion before September 2021.
“This will bring a whole new excitement for the MH Industry that has been missing for years and will bring a new passion to the Hall of Fame,” Searer said.
