Auburn, Indiana: An Historic City

After leaving the International Airstream Rally in Gillette, WY, our next designated stop was Auburn, IN. The purpose was to visit the famous Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum. Auburn is now a sleepy little city with huge shade trees and memories of more prosperous days when it was a manufacturing center for some of the world’s most elegant automobiles.

Fortunately for us, there was also a walking sculpture exhibit, and we stopped at most of the large pieces of art. Our favorite was the iconic kissing couple snapped on Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt, Life Magazine photographer, on V-J Day, August 14, 1945, the end of World War II. The photo covered the front page of Life a week later and has become a hallmark of the joy of victory. Little did that exuberant sailor know that he was creating a memorable, world-class photo-op when he grabbed a cute nurse, bent her backward, and planted a big kiss on her lips. Through the years, a dozen people claimed to have been the subjects of the famous photo but none has been positively confirmed. However, Californian Edith Shane, who died recently at age 91, is generally thought to have been the nurse. She later said many times she was not offended, and she never saw the kisser again. She died recently without ever knowing the identity of the assertive sailor, who might be arrested for similar actions today. The man who generally matches the kisser’s big hands, scars, and tattoos was George Mendonca from Rhode Island. His claim was confirmed by several photographic experts, but he died in 1995 without being officially recognized as the sailor.

Back to the museum: There are over 100 shiny classic-vintage cars exhibited along with a DVD of Jay Leno sporting his own collection. This is the only automobile museum housed in its original headquarters. In 1904 the first Auburn automobile grew out of a carriage business owned by Frank and Morris Eckart. The enterprise was moderately successful until production shut down due to World War I materials shortages. Beginning in 1919 new owners revived the business, but profits were not all that exciting. They recruited E.L. Cord, a well-known super-salesman, to manage the company, and after breathing new life into the company, bought it out in 1925. His modest office has been preserved in the museum. In 1926 he partnered with the Duesenberg Corporation, famous for its racing cars, and used this as a platform to begin producing high-end luxury cars. Then in 1927, he produced the Cord, the first production front-wheel drive car. Auburn Motors became famous for its advanced engineering and the striking appearance of its products. In the end, the high priced vehicles, owned by such dignitaries as Frank Lloyd Wright (see his coupe photo right), fell victim to the Great Depression and manufacturing sadly ended forever in 1937. Wright had said that it made perfectly good sense to him to have the front wheels pulling the car rather than having the rear wheels push. He was before his time with his architecture and his knowledge of engineering.

Behind the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, in another of the old Auburn Motors factory building is the Auburn Truck Museum. While not as impressive as the car museum, it is well worth visiting, especially if you are old enough to remember the wonderful old Studebaker, Diamond T, and Reo trucks. It was a nostalgic experience to see the little delivery panel trucks that used to stop at our homes. Can you imagine calling the grocery store and having your products delivered to your front door the next day?