Speaker Series: Studebaker in St. Joseph, Missouri

Join us for the **Studebaker Museum Speaker Series** featuring **Studebaker in St. Joseph, Missouri**, presented by the Campisi Family Education Fund. This event will take place in the Wiekamp Auditorium, where Travis Boley, a long-time leader at the Oregon-California Trails Association and former Executive Director of the Pony Express National Museum, will discuss the critical role of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company during the California Gold Rush. The five Studebaker brothers—Henry, Clement, John Mohler, Peter Everst, and Jacob Franklin—originally earned their wealth as blacksmiths before establishing a successful wagon-making dynasty after forming their company in 1868. Their operations were based in South Bend, but their key market was in St. Joseph, Missouri, a vital “Jumping Off” point for westward travelers. Peter Everst Studebaker opened the company’s first dealership in St. Joseph in 1865, where the company gained a reputation for quality, frequently winning accolades at local fairs. Regular admission for the Speaker Series is $2, with free entry for Studebaker National Museum and Campus members. Explore the fascinating history of this iconic company and its influence on westward expansion!