Kokomo: Glass, History and Art

Kokomo brings together handcrafted colored glass, local history museums, outdoor art and architecture-focused walking tours. You can also explore a range of other topics, including natural history and bike rentals. This gives you a simple question to consider when planning your trip: would you like to shape your stay around history and culture, a look at glassmaking, or other interests?

Glassmaking in Action

At Kokomo Opalescent Glass, the focus is not just on the finished material. The company has been making hand-mixed colored sheet glass in Kokomo since 1888, using the same techniques. On factory tours, visitors can watch as workers hand-skim molten glass from a 2,000-degree furnace. This offers a close look at a specific step in the process: the hot, molten glass and the handwork involved in removing it from the furnace. If you’re traveling with children, this process can be a memorable way to start a conversation about materials and manufacturing.

Buildings and Stories from Kokomo

The Seiberling Mansion was completed in 1891 and has been listed in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places since 1972. A place of local history, it houses the Howard County Museum. Its construction date, historic designation and role as a museum give the house several points of historical interest beyond its architecture alone.

The Elwood Haynes Museum also focuses on local history, but with a personal connection: it is located in the former home of automotive pioneer Elwood Haynes. Admission is free. If you’re interested in a person’s story and their former home, this museum offers a different thematic perspective from the Howard County Museum in the Seiberling Mansion.

Art in Public Spaces and Historic Walking Tours

Artist Alley is an outdoor gallery in downtown Kokomo. It features paintings, mixed-media works and sculptures. Its range of media makes it a distinct art destination alongside the museums and historic buildings. If you’re planning to focus your trip on downtown, Artist Alley offers a point of interest located right there.

Architecture enthusiasts can choose between two named walking tours. The “Old Silk Stocking District Walking Tour” covers 28 buildings, while the “Downtown Kokomo Historical Architecture Walking Tour” covers 23 buildings. Their titles point to different areas of interest: one names the Old Silk Stocking District, and the other focuses on downtown Kokomo’s historic architecture. You can choose between them based on which of these two named areas of interest appeals to you more.

Nature and Getting Around

The Kirkendall Nature Center adds a natural history dimension to Kokomo’s cultural and historical attractions. It is a free, science-focused facility with animals kept on-site. Nature enthusiasts can find a different kind of experience here than in the museums’ collections and buildings or the art around town.

KokoGo Bike Share also offers free bike rentals to everyone aged 12 and up. Riders aged 12 to 17 need the consent of a parent or guardian. If you’re traveling with teenagers, remember to take this requirement into account when planning together.

When looking for a vacation rental, you can start by considering which experiences you’d like to shape your stay. If Artist Alley and the Downtown Kokomo Historical Architecture Walking Tour are priorities, you may want to look at downtown as your preferred area to stay. If you’re especially interested in glassmaking, local history or natural history, you can give those topics more weight in your planning.

For the broader travel overview: Howard County.