As we move out of the past and into the present, our landscape is forever altered by the passing of time. The face of Kokomo, "The City of Firsts," has changed over the years. Once an image of small-town Americana, Kokomo has grown-expanding its industrial reach, enticing new residents, and continuing to be the first in a number of fields.Kokomo, Indiana: Then and Now takes the reader back to a simpler time in Kokomo history. Using historic images paired with contemporary photos, authors Thomas D. and Barbara Hamilton have created a charming view of the area's history and evolution.

One of the most dramatic eras in Indiana history, the natural gas boom in the east central region transformed a mostly agricultural area into a major industrial center. The discovery of natural gas created major cities in the place of county seat towns, boomtowns where there had been villages, and factories towering over former farm land. The impact of the boom lived on even after gas itself failed. Through a collection of vintage images, authors James A. Glass and David G. Kohrman provide an overview of the boom era and its legacy in the four county seats of the gas belt: Muncie, Anderson, Kokomo, and Marion, as well as smaller communities such as Elwood, Fairmount, and Gas City.

Author Janis Thornton reveals the stories of a day in Indiana like no other.

Palm Sunday 1965 started as the nicest day of the year, the kind of weather that encouraged Hoosiers to get out in the sun, fire up the grill, hit the golf course, or roll down their car windows and take a leisurely drive. That evening, however, throughout northern and central Indiana, the sky turned an ominous black, and storms moved in, quickly manifesting as Indiana's worst tornado outbreak. Within three hours, twisters, some a half-mile wide, ripped through seventeen counties, devastating communities and leaving death and destruction in their wake. When the tornadoes were finished with Indiana, 137 people were dead, hundreds were injured, and thousands more were forever changed.

Since the 1880s, when a Howard County sheriff's deputy shot the mayor of Kokomo during the commission of a burglary, Howard County law enforcement officers have played an important role in the community's history. Police officers, deputies, and troopers cleared rowdies out of the junction neighborhood, walked downtown beats, rescued tornado survivors, quelled civil disturbances, cleaned up tragic accidents, and solved grisly murders. By the mid-1940s, a new generation of war veterans came home with a spirit of progress and experience in leadership. The foundation of compassion, perseverance, and integrity they established in Howard County law enforcement has defined their unswerving commitment to the safety of the community and to one another. Images of America: Howard County Law Enforcement tells their story.

According to legend, Kokomo, Indiana was named after a Miami Indian Chief who lived in the area, "Ma Ko Ko Mo" -meaning Black Walnut. Founded in 1842 by David Foster, a frontier trader, Kokomo has since become the home to many of the nation's most influential inventions. From the birthplace of the automobile to the introduction of stainless steel and the development of canned tomato juice, Kokomo has been a leader in ingenuity, earning its nickname, the "City of Firsts." In this collection of reminiscent images, Kokomo, Indiana illustrates the charming history of an area which has developed from a small community to what is now one of the largest cities in Indiana. The book is an exploration of the city's streets and a stroll through the history of its growing neighborhoods, tracing the fascinating past of a bygone age.

Vowing to overcome the sin of seriousness, Indiana-born humorist Don Herold lived up to his promise. Gifted with a droll sense of humor and a vivid imagination, he was one of the most widely read, if least remembered, Hoosiers. In Forgotten Hoosiers, journalist Fred D. Cavinder presents a collection of biographical sketches charting the lives of noteworthy Hoosiers who have been overlooked, as well as acclaimed figures whose Hoosier origins have been obscured. From Harland David Sanders, the pioneering Kentucky colonel who developed the world-famous chicken franchise, to Samuel G. Woodfill, whom many have called the greatest hero of World War I, Hoosiers- both known and unknown- have continued to make their marks across the country and the world.

Black and white HCHS logo sticker

Black and white HCHS logo magnet

Black and white HCHS logo pin

Navy blue with white letters

Soft heather gray t-shirt with Howard County Historical Society logo.

Dark Heather Gray T-Shirt with Apperson Jackrabbit Logo

The perfect gift for someone who appreciates the unusual and quirky! This insulated cup featuring our local art sculpture of the "Kokomantis."

Etched bronze souvenir coin featuring the Seiberling Mansion

Originally commissioned for a fundraiser, this paperweight features the Seiberling Mansion in the fall. It measures 10.3x6.8x2.4cm and is made from clear glass.

Clear shot glass with red Seiberling Mansion

Made from the original slate tile roof of the Seiberling Mansion.

The Haynes-Apperson St. Clair glass paperweights are highly collectible vintage art glass pieces manufactured by the famous St. Clair Glass Works of Elwood, Indiana. These popular souvenirs celebrate the legacy of Elwood Haynes, who built and tested one of America’s earliest successful gasoline powered automobiles “The Pioneer” in Kokomo, Indiana in 1894.

The Haynes-Apperson St. Clair glass paperweights are highly collectible vintage art glass pieces manufactured by the famous St. Clair Glass Works of Elwood, Indiana. These popular souvenirs celebrate the legacy of Elwood Haynes, who built and tested one of America’s earliest successful gasoline powered automobiles “The Pioneer” in Kokomo, Indiana in 1894.