DeKalb County, Indiana: The Hub of Transportation and Historical Sites

Visit One of the Eight Museums in DeKalb County Indiana

DeKalb County presently has eight museums: the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, with over 100 classic, vintage, antique and special interest cars all displayed in the beautiful 1930 art deco factory showroom of the Auburn Automobile Company; the National Auto and Truck Museum, features over 100 automobiles and trucks in two original factory buildings from the Auburn Automobile Company; the Kruse Automobile and Carriage Museum, is home to an impressive display of classic cars, NASCAR and Indy racecars, custom and show cars, plus a collection of historical carriages; the National Military History Center, depicts the victorious march of the Allies from North Africa to Berlin. This pristine collection features 147 vehicles plus 50 motorcycles and 279 uniforms; the Hoosier Air Museum, displays vintage and military aircraft, including a Cobra Helicopter Gunship and one-of -a-kind 1935 Speedbird, plus aviation memorabilia and artifacts; the Garrett Historical Railroad Museum, with its restored B&O freight house which displays local heritage and railroad memorabilia; the DeKalb County History Museum, which exhibits  pre-historic artifacts, early schools and libraries, and urban and rural home life; and the Early Ford V-8 Museum, focuses on cars from 1932 to 1953.

Besides its automobile heritage, DeKalb County offers many other sites including a 131-year-old covered bridge, a historical walking tour featuring forty-one homes which have architectural or historical significance, and the famous Sechler Pickles where three generations have processed pickles the old fashion way. DeKalb County is also home to the world famous Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, where every Labor Day weekend owners of these classic cars return for their annual reunion and parade. Also held that same weekend are two Classic Car Auctions, with over 5,000 cars for sale. These three events bring in over 200,000 people to the county. DeKalb County is also host to many national and regional car clubs each year.

Dedicated in 2002, the William H. Willennar Genealogy Center is a beautifully designed building that compliments and enhances the historical district in which it resides. With it’s incredible collection of resources, including extensive archives, new technology, and a learning center, the Genealogy Center offers a fresh environment for gaining new perspectives on county and family history.

DeKalb County invites you to enjoy many of our other festivals and events, and visit our County Courthouse in downtown Auburn with its Ionic Greek architecture, rotunda glass dome and mural paintings. The downtown is also a historic main street community with a park and several antique and specialty shops.

DeKalb County is located in Northeast Indiana on Interstate I-69, and 35 miles from the Michigan line and 15 miles to the Ohio state line. Plan on visiting us for a day, a weekend or a week, you’ll be glad you did.