Episode 8: Legacy

On a -30° morning in Mankato, Minnesota, Schuyler Colfax took his final steps. This episode begins with his sudden death at a snowy train station and ends with the legacy he left behind. Was Colfax ruined by scandal or simply ready to go home? Did he miss his shot at the presidency, or choose the life he truly wanted in South Bend? We trace his post-political life, his final days, and the echo of a man who stood at the heart of American history… and walked away.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Episode 7: Private Life

Schuyler Colfax was ready to retire — until the country called him back. This episode explores his reluctant reentry into politics, the bruising 1872 campaign, and the Credit Mobilier scandal that clouded his exit. But Colfax wasn’t done. From business ventures in South Bend to becoming one of America’s most beloved public speakers, he found a second act on the lecture stage.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Episode 6: Vice President

In 1868, Schuyler Colfax wins the girl and the nation — marrying Ellen Wade and being elected Vice President alongside Ulysses S. Grant. This episode traces Colfax’s dramatic rise to national office, his unconventional partnership with Grant, and the surprising decision that stunned Washington: his early retirement from politics. But was it really goodbye? Or just the calm before a final campaign storm?

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.