Fort Wayne, Indiana
The outpost of General Anthony "Mad" Wayne and his army during the Northwest Indian War, the City of Fort Wayne plays prominent role in the history of the taming of the American west. The city sits at the confluence of St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers, a rolling expanse of hills and rivers on the northeastern region of Indiana. It is approximately 30 minutes west of the Ohio border and 70 minutes away from the southern end of the Michigan border. It sits on the highest point above sea level along the entire Wabash-Erie Canal route; hence its nickname, Summit City.
A three-time All-American City honoree, Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The city's location at the river junction and proximity to the geographic center of the United States has made Fort Wayne an important marketplace since its settlement by Europeans in the 1600s. First settled by the French as a fur trading post, Fort Wayne now serves as center of commerce and industry for Northern Indiana. Many large companies are headquartered here, and the city boasts of inventions that include the refrigeration, garbage disposal bin, and washing machine. Today, the rivers enhance Fort Wayne's scenic beauty, provide plenty of recreation. opportunities, and give the city of sense of history.
Fort Wayne is an attractive city for both local residents as well as tourists. It has something to appeal to everyone's senses. It is also an area of history and culture.
Fort Wayne History
What today is the Fort Wayne region, there were already established Miami settlements along the Maumee, St. Marys, and St. Joseph Rivers long before the first European traders arrived in the 1680s. The French established a trading post there, as the region allowed for portage between the Great Lakes and the Maumee and Mississipi Rivers.
In 1697, the French built Fort Miamis on the site, the first in a series of outposts between Quebec and St. Louis. Called Fort Miamis, the outpost was annexed by the British Empire in 1760 following the French and Indian War. In 1763, Native Americans regained control of Kekionga following the Pontiac's Rebellion. The outpost remained under the Native American's rule for more than 30 years.
In 1790, President George Washington ordered armies into the center of the Miami territory to secure Indiana from the rebellious tribes. Little Turtle and the Miami Confederacy defeated the US army in the first two battles. Then General Anthony "Mad" Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero, ransacked and destroyed Miamitown while Little Turtle and his confederacy were away. On August 20, 1794, Wayne defeated the Miami at Fort Recovery and at Fallen Timbers. Wayne built the first American fort at the confluence of the three rivers. On October 22, 1794, the fort was named for him.
The arrival of Judge Samuel Hanna in 1819 was a turning point in Fort Wayne's history. Hanna opened a trading post and a grist mill. He helped in the organizing of Allen County, and he used his influence to designate Fort Wayne as county seat. The arrival of the Wabash and Erie Canal in 1843 aided local economy. Three years later, the Pennsylvania Railroad arrived, securing Fort Wayne's role as the "Altoona of the West".
The second half of the century was a period of inventions and development of new products, inventions that planted the seed of Fort Wayne's future as an industrial center in Midwest. In 1866, druggists Joseph and Cornelius Hoagland and Thomas Biddle developed baking powder at the back of their shop. In 1871, Dr. Theodore Horton developed a crude hand-operating machine. He went on to open the Horton Manufacturing Company, which produced electric-powered washing machines. In 1885, Sylvanus Bowser developed the first self-measuring oil tanks. Fort Wayne would later become the top manufacturer of gasoline pumps in the country. In the 1890s, the Foster Shirtwaist Factory introduced the Gibson Girl shirtwaist, a style that became the defining feature of the Edwardian era.
As the 1800s drew to a close, the city saw an increase in population with the influx of immigrants from Germany and Ireland. In the years to come, the city's economy and people would continue to diversify and flourish.
About Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city of depth and diversity, the City combines the urban rush of a thriving metropolitan and the intimate, personal feel of a small community. It's a city with a strong sense of history, culture, and heritage as reflected in the many museums, art offerings, festivals, restored historic buildings, and Hoosier hospitality. Yet it is also a city of future, mirrored in the high-rise modern-style offices of industrial and tech giants in the city.
Fort Wayne is a city of celebration. Nearly every month, there's a festival of sorts happening in the city. Summer starts with three ethnic festivals. There's the Indiana Highland Games, a toast to the city's Scottish heritage. The celebration includes bagpipes and dancing, food, and games. Germanfest is wunderbar; there's polka dancing, grape stomping, bake off, sports, beverages German food, and many more! Greek Festival, which concludes the month of June, features Greek food, music, jewelry, and dancing. Festivity continues into July with the Three Rivers Festival, a 9-day that includes over 200 different events. On Labor Day weekend, car enthusiasts gather at the Auburn Cord Deusenberg to bid for the world's largest vintage automobiles. September's Johnny Appleseed Festival, organized to honor John Appleseed (John Chapman, brings America's pioneering years to life through reenactments and crafts.
Fort Wayne actively embraces art and music. At the restored historic Embassy Theatre (itself an architectural masterpiece), spectators enjoy a diverse kind of performance arts all year round. Productions run the gamut from Broadway shows to chamber music concerts to cinema. Every year about 600 residents volunteer to produce Broadway-style shows at the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. In the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, the Cinema Center shows a variety of Fort Wayne Cinema runs a variety of foreign, classic, documentary, and indie films. Visual arts can be experienced at the Fort Wayne Museum of Arts, also in downtown Fort Wayne; it has nearly 50,000 feet of space for art exhibits.
Also a highlight of the city is the Rivergreenway, a 15-mile scenic trail developed to add beauty to the riverfronts as well as to encourage the community to adopt healthier lifestyle. There are also plenty of sporting opportunities for spectators and participants alike. Fort Way has an abundant number of tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds, swimming pools, soccer fields, golf courses, and parks.
This self-billed "City of Restaurants" has over 600 restaurants and eateries. There's an eclectic range of foods to satisfy every appetite, ranging from regional favorites (pawpaws, potato salad, etc) to Greek food, Chinese food, Indian food, and many other international fares. There are plenty of farmers' markets around as well; they offer the best in local foods and organic foods.
About Allen County, Indiana
Allen County is the largest county in the state of Indiana in terms of land area. While it small relative to other counties in the US, it is one of the few counties to border as much as 9 counties. Incorporated in 1824, Allen County is now home to over three hundred fifty thousand people from diverse walks of life and cultural background. A county of 20 civil townships, Allen County also boasts of diverse economic base that include industrial manufacturing, education, and health care. Some of the greatest inventions of the 19th and 20th century, such as washing machine and self-measuring gas pumps, took place in Allen County.
Native Americans were the first settlers of the area. In the early 1600s, they established villages near the Maumee-Wabash portage. The first White settlers were French fur traders, who established a trading post here in the 1680s. Allen County had been a site of several wars in the history of America, including the French Indian War (1754-1763), Pontiac's War (1763-1766), and Battle at Fallen Timbers (1794).
It was created by territorial legislature on December 17, 1823 from Delaware and Randolph counties. It was incorporated on April 1, 1824 with Fort Wayne as county seat. The county was named for Colonel John Allen, a US senator and patriot killed in the War of 1812.
Historic Landmarks: A region with a long and rich history, Allen County boasts of many well-preserved historic sites, many of which are found in the City of Fort Wayne. The Nickel Plate Road 765 is a steam-powered locomotive on September 1944. The 765 has undergone several rebuilding efforts since its retirement on June 14, 1958. The 765 continues to run today, but for excursion purposes only. The Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church at the corner of Barr and Madison Streets of Fort Wayne is second oldest church in Indiana and the oldest Lutheran church in the state. The Johnny Appleseed Park, also in Fort Wayne, is built around the gravesite of famous American pioneer Johnny Appleseed. The John D. Haynes House is a private residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is a classic example of a Usonian design. The house comes with gravity heating.