Posts by The History Center | Fort Wayne Insider Blog

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The History Center

The History Center is the home of the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society. Housed in the 1893 Old City Hall, the organization offers a look at Allen County and Fort Wayne history via its museum, the National Historic Landmark Chief Richardville House, the George R. Mather Lecture Series, the magazine “Old Fort News”, its award winning blog “History Center Notes and Queries” and other programs. The History Center’s Festival of Gingerbread during the holiday season attracts over 12,000 people to downtown Fort Wayne during its three-week run with proceeds going toward support of the museum and its programs. The Heritage Education Fund provides free field trips to students in area schools.

History Through Headstones

By The History Center on May. 24, 2021

Did you know that there are many things that you can learn simply by looking at headstones? This is just one reason why you should visit the historic cemeteries in Fort Wayne, Indiana…

Marking History in Fort Wayne

By The History Center on May. 24, 2021

As you drive around Fort Wayne, Indiana you maycome across a sign that denotes a historic happening or an important place from our city’s history. …

I LOVE Fire Trucks!

By The History Center on Jul. 09, 2015

I love fire trucks. And when I say I love fire trucks, what I’m really saying is: I LOVE FIRE TRUCKS! Since I know I’m not alone in that love, I ventured over to the Fort Wayne Fire Fighters Museum the other day to take some photos and entice you to go visit too. The museum is at 226 West…

Celebrating the Old City Hall and Fort Wayne History

By The History Center on May. 09, 2015

May is National Historic Preservation Month (http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/preservation-month/) and since the Chief Richardville House has been much in the news, we thought it only right to spotlight on our blog another historic structure that the History Center owns--the Old City…

Too Good a Prisoner

By The History Center on Apr. 09, 2015

One of the perks of working at the History Center is getting “behind-the-scenes” and “first” looks at artifacts. A perfect example is an artifact that we were given on July 3, 2012 by Donna J. Vorndran, daughter of former Sheriff Herman C. Holle. Mrs. Vorndran brought us a “soap gun”….a .38…

Prince Kaboo (Samuel Morris) Makes His Mark in Fort Wayne History

By The History Center on Mar. 09, 2015

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Lindenwood Cemetery is Jordan Crossing. Jordan Crossing is a section of the cemetery—Section 14-- set aside for the graves of African-Americans who died in our city. Among those interred there is Samuel Morris aka Prince Kaboo. “Sammy”, as he was called, was…

Miami Indiana Heritage Days - Chief Richardville House

The Voice of the Miami

By The History Center on Nov. 09, 2014

“Father, we think our answer is good—You point to the West and ask us to go there—There I shall never go, nor will my people. They are all opposed to leaving here. They will not sell their lands. I speak not for myself, but for my people—What you hear from me is the voice of the Miami. We have…

Indiana's Oldest Jewish Congregation

By The History Center on Oct. 09, 2014

Congregation Achduth Vesholom in Fort Wayne is Indiana’s oldest Jewish congregation, founded in 1848 by a group of 23 people as a “Society for Visiting the Sick and Burying the Dead”. In 1874, the congregation became a “Reform” congregation, meaning they are Reform Jews as opposed, for…

A two-hour tour of central Fort Wayne

By The History Center on Sep. 24, 2014

Any time of year, finding something for the kids to do (and those kids can be of any size and age) can sometimes be a challenge. When the weather is beautiful, it’s time to get out of the house and explore your city. In 1978, Clifford Richards and Pat Boice published an article in the Old…

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