Kokomo: History, Glass Art and Museums

Kokomo offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: local history, the production of colored sheet glass, outdoor art, and tours of historic buildings. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kokomo, you can start by considering which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay. The places and activities differ depending on whether the focus is a historic home, a manufacturing process, a gallery, or a walking tour.

Places of Local History

The Seiberling Mansion was completed in 1891 and has been listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places since 1972. As a place of local history, it houses the Howard County Museum. The two dates mark different milestones: 1891, when the building was completed, and 1972, when it was added to the register. This historic home brings together architectural history and its connection to the Howard County Museum.

The Elwood Haynes Museum offers a different focus: this local history museum is located in the former home of automotive pioneer Elwood Haynes, and admission is free. When comparing the two historic sites, the emphasis is therefore different: the Howard County Museum in a building completed in 1891, or a museum in Elwood Haynes’s former home. This distinction can help you choose between the sites based on their respective historical focus.

Glassmaking, from Material to Tour

At Kokomo Opalescent Glass, production history and craftsmanship go hand in hand. The company has been making hand-mixed, colored sheet glass in Kokomo since 1888, using the same techniques. On factory tours, visitors can watch liquid glass being hand-scooped from a 2,000-degree furnace. This offers a look at both the product—colored sheet glass—and a specific step in its production.

The company’s long history and continued use of these techniques describe the tradition behind its production; the tour also focuses on a process at the furnace. If you’re interested in materials and how they’re made, this offers a different perspective from the museums: the focus is on sheet glass, handwork, and observing how liquid glass is handled during a tour.

Outdoor Art and Science

Artist Alley is an outdoor gallery in downtown Kokomo. The art on display includes paintings, mixed-media works, and sculptures. The gallery thus features a range of media rather than focusing on a single form. The Kirkendall Nature Center offers a thematic contrast: it’s a free, science-oriented facility with animals kept on site. Here, outdoor art and a science-oriented facility with animals represent two clearly different interests to consider.

Walking Tours and Bike Share

Two walking tours offer different historical perspectives. The “Old Silk Stocking District Walking Tour” includes 28 buildings. The “Downtown Kokomo Historical Architecture Walking Tour” includes 23 buildings and, as its name suggests, focuses on historic architecture in downtown Kokomo. You can compare the tours based on their stated themes and the number of buildings included: 28 in the first and 23 in the second.

Another option to consider when planning your trip is KokoGo Bike Share. The program offers free bike rentals to anyone aged 12 and over. For riders aged 12 to 17, a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent is required. As the program is subject to seasonal changes, check the terms for your travel dates before your trip. This lets you take the age requirement and seasonal conditions into account without confusing bike rentals with one of the walking tours mentioned above.

For an overview of the wider trip: Howard County.