History of Fort Wayne, Indiana Walking Tour

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The Old Fort is a historic site featuring a replica of Fort Wayne, which was built in 1815 and the third fort that protected and secured this strategic area from Native American tribes. The site is a public park so anyone can visit at any time. Historic Fort Wayne operates the site, offering a variety of educational, interactive programming year round. The fort consists of several structures: the commander's quarters, a hospital, blockhouses, the main gate/enlisted quarters, and the officer's quarters. There is also a complex of structures that comprise a village where a Blacksmith shop, woodworker shop, bakery, and homes and shops of Indian traders. A modern building has restrooms and meeting space. Old Fort volunteers dress up in period clothing and perform various demonstrations, such as woodcarving.

2. John Brown Stone Warehouse

This historic stone building is Fort Wayne's oldest commercial building still standing and the last in the city associated with the Wabash & Erie Canal. Stonemason and building supplies merchant John Brown constructed it in 1852. A native of Scotland, Brown used it as his warehouse and it was located a mere 50 feet from the canal and the towpath (the path that runs alongside a canal on which horses and mules pulled boats). Currently, it appears that the building is vacant and not being maintained. A historical marker is affixed on next to the front doors and another marker is located just a few feet away.

3. Major General Anthony Wayne Statue

This statue, which is located in Friemann Square and accompanied by two interpretive signs, depicts prominent colonial-era military officer Major General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796) astride a horse. Wayne was a celebrated officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving in and leading a number of campaigns against the British. He earned his nickname after he led a nighttime raid called the British at the Battle of Stony Point on July 16, 1779. It was a decisive battle and his men appreciated his boldness (he also possessed a fiery personality). Wayne also led the fledgling U.S. Army in the Northwest Territory in the early 1790s (see below). The statue was sculpted by Chicago artist George E. Ganiere in 1918 and placed in another park before being moved here in 1973.

4. Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is the premier art institution in the city. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and display fine and decorative American art. Established in 1921, its collection 1,400 works of art including paintings, photographs, drawings, sculpture, and prints. The Notable artists represented here include Janet Fish, George Rickey, Chuck Close, and Mark di Suvero. Much of this art is on display in the permanent galleries but the museum also presents changing exhibitions throughout the year as well.

5. McCulloch-Weatherhogg Double House

Now the headquarters of the United Way of Allen County, the 1881 McCulloch-Weatherhogg Double House is the only and a very fine example of High Victorian Gothic architecture in the county. Fort Wayne architect Thomas J. Tolan designed it for banker Charles McCulloch, whose father Hugh McCulloch served as Secretary of Treasury under Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur. It was built in 1881 with east and west house units. The other person associated with the house is Charles Weatherhogg, who took up residence around 1908. He, interestingly, was an architect and made changes to the house including the two-story porch. The house was restored in 2003 and in 2005, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

6. The History Center

Housed in the historic Old Fort Wayne City Hall building, The History Center is a museum dedicated to the history of Fort Wayne and Allen County. It is operated by the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, which is also located in the building. The museum's exhibits showcase the area's history from the Ice Age to today, covering a wide range of subjects including Native American culture and the city's founding and development. Many items and artifacts from the museum's collection are on display in the exhibits. As for the building itself, it was constructed in 1893 and is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. Interesting features include rough-hewn stonework, semi-circular arches, and ornamental roof ridges.

7. Freemasons Hall

At ten stories tall, Freemasons Hall is one of Fort Wayne's most iconic landmarks. Built in 1926, it has been home to the masons, a fraternal order of men who used the building to gather, socialize, and form friendships. Local architect Charles R. Weatherhogg designed the stately building in the Classical Revival style. As such, the building features numerous elements of this style, most notably the five-story tall Ionic columns on the front facade. The building was erected in 1926 and is available to rent for weddings and other events. Available spaces include the ballroom, which features a mezzanine, an auditorium, and a social room. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

8. Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum

Housed in the historic Engine House No. 3, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum is dedicated to the preserving the legacy of the city's firefighting history. It was established in 1974 and opened on a limited basis in 1981. The station itself was built in 1893 and designed in the Romanesque Revival style. Visitors will learn about the growth and development of the city's fire department and see firefighting equipment, artifacts, hoses, old fire engines, photographs, and even a replica of a fire chief's buggy on display.

9. The Embassy Theater

The Embassy Theater, formerly referred to as the Emboyd, was a performance venue which opened on May 14, 1928 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This theater became a crown jewel of the city, featuring Black and white films, vaudeville performances, and concerts. Through the 50s and 60s, the theatre struggled to keep its doors open, however in 1972 the theatre was saved by the Embassy Theatre Foundation. Today, the Embassy is still thriving, and it is well attended by patrons for a variety of featured performances. It was recently renovated in 1995 to expand the stage and create seating capacity for up to 2,471 patrons.

10. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1860. The parish was established 24 years earlier and the parishioners built the Cathedral of St. Augustine which served the congregation between 1840 and a fire in 1859. In 1860, Rev. Julian Benoit erected a third church and named it the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is also a small museum housed in the basement of the adjacent MacDougal Chapel a few blocks north of Cathedral Square.

11. Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Home to the second oldest Lutheran congregation in the state, Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of Fort Wayne's most recognizable landmarks. It was built in 1889 and is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in northern Indiana. For this reason, coupled with its association with the congregation, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its most prominent feature, the tower, reaches a height of 214 feet. The church also features vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. The congregation itself was founded in 1837 and was one of the first of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The congregation has owned this site since 1839 and built its original church at that time.

12. African/African American Historical Society Museum

The African/African American Historical Society Museum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of African and African American histories and cultures. It features the largest collection of original African art—over 130 works—in northeast Indiana. These include wooden statues, spears, shields, masks, drums, and other musical instruments. The museum, which is located in an old twenty-room house built in 1890, was founded by its Executive Director Dr. John Aden. The first floor contains the art and the other rooms are dedicated to specific topics including sports, "firsts" in the community (i.e. the first Black men and women police officers), and accomplished local African American figures. The museum was founded in 1999.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

History of Fort Wayne, Indiana Walking Tour

Created by Clio Admin on April 11th 2019, 2:23:42 pm.

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Description

This short walk through Fort Wayne begins at the site of the original fort which was constructed in 1815. After touring the replica of Fort Wayne, residents and visitors will be led to the John Brown Stone Warehouse, Fort Wayne's oldest commercial building. The tour continues on to the Allen County Courthouse and other landmarks such as the statue of Major General Anthony Wayne, the McCulloch-Weatherhogg Double House, Freemasons Hall, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The tour also includes several museums such as the History Center in the former City Hall building and the African/African American Historical Society Museum. Be sure to also visit the Firefighters Museum a few blocks west of this tour and Baker Street Station.

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History of Fort Wayne, Indiana Walking Tour

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