In 1910, Elkhart, Indiana, was a town of 21,365 residents that covered six square miles. It had ten public schools, the telephone had arrived, and the automobile age had begun. Albert R. and Elizabeth Baldwin Beardsley commissioned Chicago-trained architect E. Hill Turnock to design and build Ruthmere in 1908. For 14 years, Ruthmere was a place where they entertained friends and business associates in grand style. After their deaths in 1924, the home had two additional owners. Eventually it was purchased by the Beardsley Foundation, which restored the home to its former glory, with the express purpose of creating a museum for the community and the region.

Albert's great-great nephew, Robert Buchanan Beardsley, an architectural preservationist, supervised the restoration, which began in 1969. The site opened to the public in 1973 with Robert Beardsley as Director, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Today, Ruthmere is a multifaceted cultural and historical museum home, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of a wealthy, innovative man and his engaging wife, as well as rich exposure to architecture and art.