architecture manufacturing the arts culture
and river greenway
Located at the center
of northeastern Indiana, Fort Wayne is located 18 miles (29 km) west of the Ohio border, 50 miles (80 km)
south of the Michigan border and within a 300-mile (482 km) radius of
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville,
Lexington, and Milwaukee.
Origins Fort Wayne was built in 1794
by General Anthony Wayne as the last in a series of forts built near the Miami village
of Kekionga, this European-American settlement developed at the confluence
of the St. Joseph, St. Mary and Maumee rivers and later underwent growth with
the Wabash and Erie Canal and the railroad. The term Summit City refers to the
city's position at the highest elevation along the canal's route.
The Three Rivers Area was the Capital of
the Miami Nation
Geography the most important feature of the area is
the short distance overland between the Three Rivers system, which flows to the
Atlantic, and the Wabash system, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico; hence, the
portage over which passengers and cargoes moved from one system to the next.
This natural crossroads attracted the Native Americans for thousands of years.
Chief Little Turtle of the Miami Nation called it "that glorious gate
through which all the words of our chiefs had to pass through from north to
south and from east to west." It later attracted explorers, traders and pioneer
settlers who continued to develop the area as a transportation and
communications center.
Recent History at the turn of the 20th century,
there was a large influx of Germans and Irish who formed Fort Wayne's urban
working class in an economy based on manufacturing and many innovations such as
the gasoline pump, the refrigerator, and even the first video games. Following
a long period of economic decline, efforts by local leaders during the 1990s focused
on crime reduction, economic diversification, and downtown redevelopment which
continued in the 21ar century.
Architecture
during the 19th
century, Fort Wayne was dominated by Greek and Gothic Revival as well as
Italianate architecture. Popular early-20thcentury architectural
styles found in the city include Queen Anne, Romanesque, Neoclassical, Dutch
Colonial Revival, Prairie, Tudor Revival and Art Deco.
Manufacturing is deeply rooted in Fort Wayne's economic history, dating to
the earliest days of the city's growth as an important trade stop. From 1900 to
1930, Fort Wayne's industrial output expanded by 747 percent. Despite economic
diversification, the city was significantly impacted by the early 21st
century financial crisis, losing nearly a quarter of its manufacturing jobs
between 2000 and 2014.
Arts and Culture since its
establishment in 2010, the Cultural District has been home to several of the
city's cultural institutions, including the Auer Center for Arts and Culture, the
Arts United Center, and Hall Community Arts Center. The Embassy Theatre hosts
over 200,000 patrons annually and Foellinger Theatre hosts seasonal acts
and outdoor concerts during warmer months. Located west of downtown, Arena
Dinner Theatre is a nonprofit community arts corporation with a focus on live
theater production, annually hosting seven full-length theatrical productions. Established
in 1921, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art specializes in the collection and exhibition
of American art.
The History Center Manages a Collection of
23,000 Artifacts Recalling the Region's History
River Greenway is a system of recreational trails along the riverbanks
designed to beautify the riverfronts and promote an active lifestyle for Fort
Wayne residents. It comprises 180 miles (290 km) in the city and county
and has about 550,000 annual users. With the expansion of trails, cycling
has also become an emerging mode of transportation for residents.
Transport Fort Wayne
is connected by air with five airlines offering direct service to 13 domestic
connections. Amtrak's Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited are the closest
passenger rail services to Fort Wayne, with a stop located 25 miles
(40 km) north in Waterloo. Mass Transit consists of 12 bus routes through
the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven via downtown's Central Station.
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