Benton Harbor is Whirlpool's hometown
Whirlpool’s story begins in Benton Harbor on Nov. 11, 1911. Lou Upton and his uncle Emory formed the Upton Machine Company to make electric motor-driven wringer washers. The business changed names and grew far beyond washing machines, but Whirlpool still lists Benton Harbor as its global headquarters.
The size claim needs a little care. Whirlpool calls itself the only major maker of kitchen and laundry appliances that is both based and owned in the United States. That is the company’s own description of a particular category, not an independent ranking of every appliance business. Its current U.S. manufacturing page names Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, and InSinkErator among its product lines.
The company connection stretches across the neighboring Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area. One public example is Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph, where the Whirlpool Compass Fountain works as a seasonal splash pad. It is easier to visit than a corporate campus, and the city posts current fountain hours and maintenance closures online.
Where to see it
Whirlpool's global headquarters is a working corporate campus, not a visitor attraction. A public piece of the local connection is Whirlpool Centennial Park and its Compass Fountain at 200 Broad St. in St. Joseph. The city runs the fountain seasonally from May through September, subject to weather and maintenance; check the current city schedule before going.
Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: July 15, 2026.