It was 7 a.m. on my first Saturday as a Fort Wayne resident when my phone rang. It was my mother calling from Illinois, asking what I had planned for that day.  Since sleep was obviously out of the question, I mumbled something about unpacking and finding my way around town.  I was a single girl, living in a town where I knew no one, and can honestly say I hadn’t planned much for my first weekend in the city.

My mother, in typical mom fashion, had already looked up Visit Fort Wayne’s calendar and had a list of things I could be doing that day.  It was obvious the conversation was going to continue until I committed to something on her list and agreed to report back later in the day.  I chose the Downtown Fort Wayne Walking Tour.

I love history and architecture so it seemed like the least painful thing to agree to at 7 a.m.  It turned out to be one of the highlights of my time here in Fort Wayne.  It was a great experience and one I’m happy to admit my mother was right about.  With walking shoes, sunglasses, a bottle of water, the $10 fee, and sunscreen I set out to meet the tour group at the Barr Street Market where we would depart on our 90-minute tour.  I learned quickly that volunteers like the one leading our tour are passionate about this city and love giving you the “inside story” of the history of things.  It was easy to get swept up in the passion of our guide.

As we departed Barr Street Market, I began to see Downtown Fort Wayne in a way I hadn’t during the interview process.  Downtown Fort Wayne is filled with history and interesting history at that.  For example, the train elevation running through downtown used to be a canal.  Who knew? I certainly would have never guessed that.  Or that the beautiful tower bank has an old fashioned soda fountain just off the lobby or that the beautiful concrete art structures on the lawn of historic Allen County Courthouse were actually left overs from the ones at the top of the building found in a basement and used when the city created the park that now sits in front of the courthouse.  I use that fact every time I need a little fact that makes me sound clever.

My guide was funny and warm and looked just like the retired history buff you imagine he would.  He welcomed me with open arms to this great city and made me want to stay.  Whether you’re a visitor or a life long resident, I encourage you to check out the walking tour.  You’ll want to stay too!

Additional walking and bus tours are available for a variety of areas in Fort Wayne.  Check out Arch’s website at www.archfw.org for more info.

And, if you ever want to try it on your own, check out this self-guided walking tour!

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Located in the Allen County Public Library is the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, an incomparable resource for information about the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

The historic collection is used by scholars, educators, students, Lincoln enthusiasts, and the general public. The collection has been widely cited in books and other media as a source of information and images. Most recently it was credited in Steven Spielberg’s movie Lincoln.

The LFFC at Allen County Public Library includes:

• More than 18,000 books and pamphlets, including books owned by Lincoln and his family
• Thousands of 19^th-century photographs, including the Lincoln Family Album Collection of photographs owned by the Lincolns and their descendants
• Manuscript collections, including the Insanity File related to Mary Lincoln’s commitment to Bellevue Place sanitarium
• Documents related to Lincoln’s youth in Kentucky and Indiana
• Extensive genealogical collections on the Hanks and Lincoln families
• election tickets, poll books, campaign literature, broadsides, and other political material
• 19^th-century maps
• Civil War diaries and letters
• Mid-19^th-century newspapers chronicling the Lincoln Administration, the Civil War, and Lincoln’s assassination and funeral
• Lincoln-related documents, including many signed by Lincoln.

One of the many original photographs featured in the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, this photograph is the last photo President Lincoln sat for before he was assassinated.

In addition, the extensive subject files of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other materials comprise a trove of information available nowhere else in the world. 

Many LFFC materials are now online for the public to research, too. Located at www.lincolncollection.org, researchers have access to over 10,000 full-text books, pamphlets, newspapers, and subject files and more than 1,800 photographs – as well as – the collection’s art and artifacts housed at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.

The LFFC at ACPL is open for research by appointment Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  You can also ask questions by email or telephone. There are tours of the collection, as well.

To learn about programming and events, and to discover selected items from the collection, “like” the Lincoln Collection Facebook page, visit the Allen County Public Library website, or check out Visit Fort Wayne. For more information on LFFC, please contact Jgastineau@acpl.info or Amaynard@acpl.info.

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Whether you’re considering relocating to Fort Wayne, or you’re visiting and want to get to know the city a little better, a driving tour can be a great way to see all of our great city. We’ve put together a Fort Wayne drive-about guide to seeing the sites through your windshield.

Welcome to Fort Wayne!

FWA

Your flight has landed and you’re ready to be on your way, but before you leave, check out the Greater Fort Wayne Aviation Museum located in the terminal, at the top of the escalators. Aviation history buffs will find historic details of the hold Baer Field and local aviation heroes. Admission is free. Be sure to take the cookie they’ll offer you as you leave the terminal – it’s a deliciously sweet way to be welcomed to our city and it’s made right across the street. Military history buffs will also enjoy the retired military aircraft showcased at the entrance of to the National Air Guard Base located just east of the airport.

Come on by!

Stop by our Visitors Center, located in downtown Fort Wayne at 927 Harrison St. (on the corner of Harrison and Washington directly across from the Grand Wayne Center) for maps, guides, and information about what to see and do.

Explore Downtown

Downtown Fort Wayne is easily accessible on foot and parking is reasonably priced near by. From here you can venture through downtown to enjoy the architecture and history of our great city. Grab a bite at one of our many restaurants, take a walk around Parkview Field (it’s open during non game days and admission is free), shop in our unique shops, and check out our historic Allen County Courthouse.  If you’re looking to know about the history of Fort Wayne, pop in to the Fort Wayne History Center located at 302 E Berry St (on the corner of Barr and Berry).  If you’d like to know more about the architecture and preservation of area buildings visit ARCH, Architecture and Community Heritage, at 818 Lafayette Street.  Downtown Fort Wayne has beautiful parks to enjoy as well.  Relax by the fountains in Freimann Square or go ice-skating in Headwaters Park.

Check out our great neighborhoods

Consider a walking tour of West Central’s historic homes. This historic neighborhood, located just west of downtown Fort Wayne boasts many restored homes and tree lined streets just waiting for you to stroll down. Looking for a sweet treat and some great shops? Check out the East State Neighborhood with great shops to pop in and out of. Don’t forget to pick up a cupcake at Yum.Mee’s Bakery (I recommend the vanilla). Want a great place to watch the game? Check out Wrigley Bar and Grill in the Georgetown Neighborhood.

Get a little shopping in while you’re in town

Fort Wayne has two great malls. Glenbrook Mall and the surrounding shopping centers have all of the stores you’re looking for. From Macy’s to Bobick’s Golf there’s a little bit for every shopper. Or, head to Jefferson Pointe for a beautiful shopping experience in their outdoor mall. With high end department stores such as Von Maur and boutiques such as Vera Bradley and Acorn you’ll find the best Fort Wayne has to offer.  Make sure to stop by DeBrands for a truffle or share the decadent ice cream sundae with a friend.

Take in a game

We love minor league sports in Fort Wayne. No matter the time of year, you can find an event to watch. Check out Mad Ants Basketball, Komets Hockey, The Derby Girls, or a TinCaps Baseball game. Tickets are reasonably priced and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Be a kid again

Explore the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. It appeals to kids from 3-93 and will make you want to return. Be sure to feed the giraffes and take in the sea lion show.  If animals aren’t your thing, head on over to Science Central where kids can learn about science hands on.  You can’t miss their brightly painted smoke stacks just north of downtown.

Take in a festival

From late spring to early fall there’s a festival almost every weekend. You’re sure to be entertained by GermanFest, the Three Rivers Festival, or Johnny Appleseed Festival. Even if you’re not here during the Johnny Appleseed Festival, stop by Johnny Appleseed Park at 1500 Coliseum Blvd. There you’ll find the final resting place of John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.

Experience the Arts

Explore the Art scene in Fort Wayne. The Art Campus is located on the east side of downtown and is walkable. There you’ll explore museums, galleries, studios, theatres, and a cinema.

Eat!

Fort Wayne is know for its unique treats.  Whether you’re in the mood for Coney Dogs at Coney Island on Main Street or a tour of DeBrand’s Chocolate Factory (complete with samples) on Auburn Rd there’s something for you. You’ll lovesimple Greek meals from Friends Too, a great steak and a merlot from Chops, and Italian goodness from Casa’s.  You’re sure to find something that fits your taste buds.

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The public is invited to celebrate the holiday season with the University of Saint Francis (USF). Below are a few events you don’t want to miss:

• Christmas in the Castle, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 &9. : Historic Brookside, the former Bass family mansion, will be decorated for Christmas by local florists and designers. Visitors can view all three floors of the mansion as it comes alive for Christmas. Tickets can be purchased on the days of the event in the North Campus lobby (across Spring Street from Brookside). Ample free parking is available at the North Campus. Golf cart shuttles will be available for those with mobility difficulties. Admission is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family of up to six people, including parents and children. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.sf.edu/christmas.

• Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar, Sunday, Dec. 2 from noon-5:30 p.m.: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) present high-quality, fairly-traded hand-crafted items from disadvantaged producers all over the world at the Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar at the North Campus. Fairly-traded items are sold by artists who earn a fair price in producing them, receive access to credit and training, and maintain long-term relationships with organizations rooted in the principles of human dignity and economic justice.

• Living Nativity, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: As Advent begins, members of the university community present a living Nativity as a witness to the power and presence of God’s incarnate love in the world. The character of Saint Francis will narrate the Christmas story as it unfolds, and all gathered will sing “Silent Night.” The living Nativity will be presented in the amphitheater next to the Pope John Paul II Center. Parking is available off Leesburg Road, and there is no admission charge. A petting zoo with the animals for the living Nativity will be available for children from 5-5:50 p.m. free of charge at the living Nativity site.

• Lighting of the Lake, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: Vigil lights will encircle the area of Mirror Lake closest to Spring Street for a shining symbol of Christmas. Those who wish may dedicate one or more luminaries at $10 per luminary to a loved one, in memory of someone special, in recognition of a special occasion, or just to wish a student good luck with final exams. Call (260) 399-8037 to order luminaries by Dec. 1. There is no charge for admission.

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Come out to see one of Fort Wayne’s historic neighborhoods in a new and different light.

The Williams Woodland Park 2012 Holiday Home Tour, Dec. 1-2, welcomes visitors to take in the beauty of this area’s architecture. According to their website, the Williams Woodland Park Local Historic District was originally established in 1985. This area is located roughly between Calhoun to Fairfield, and Creighton to Pontiac. A slightly modified area was listed on the National Register in 1991. The district is considered significant as an early example of a planned residential development in Fort Wayne, as an intact collection of outstanding late-19th/early-20th century domestic architecture, and for its association with many prominent Fort Wayne citizens.

The tour will feature seven neighborhood homes, as well as two apartments in Fairfield Manor apartment building and the Center for Nonviolence. The Center will host a traditional English tearoom with readings from works by Charles Dickens.

The tour runs Saturday 5-9 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm. Advance tickets are $10 for individuals and $36 for groups of four. You can purchase them the day of the tour at Simpson United Methodist Church, 2501 S. Harrison St.) for $12 tickets for individuals. Children 10 and under receive free admission, so make it a family affair.

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