Fort Wayne Walking Tour
Print a map of the walking tour to take with you.
Starting at the Visitors Center, 1, cross Washington Street and step into the beautiful Grand Wayne Convention Center, 2, via their Harrison Street entrance.
Go straight through the building and exit the Grand Wayne Center on the Jefferson Blvd side, across from the Courtyard by Marriott, and Conner’s. Cross the street and head left. You will pass the historic Embassy Theatre, 3, which opened in 1928 as a movie palace and vaudeville house. In front of the theatre, look on the ground for plaques with information about the theatre and its history.
Right next door, you will find your first stop at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 4. Surround yourself with nature at an oasis in the heart of downtown. Enjoy lush seasonal displays, four outdoor gardens, the Tropical Garden with orchids, palms, and a cascading waterfall, and the Sonoran Desert Garden. Visit the Gift Shop.
Across the street, you will find the Diocesan Museum, 5, home to dozens of church artifacts, another great stop for history and religion enthusiasts.
Now head north on Calhoun Street, where you will pass several local restaurants and coffee shops. Turn right on Berry Street and stop in the historic Lincoln Tower, 6, an art deco masterpiece that still houses a bank and operating soda fountain!
After two blocks on Berry, you will come to the intersection of Barr Street. This is your next stop: The History Center, 7. Allen County Fort Wayne Historical Society and museum. Little Turtle to Anthony Wayne to inventions that originated in this area; 26,000 historic artifacts available for study.
Then, continue going north on Barr St for one more block. At Main St, you’ve reached the Arts Campus. On your right side is your next stop at Auer Center for Arts and Culture, 8. The Auer Center is home to many nonprofits, including Artlink. Artlink’s mission is to showcase work of the highest quality by ehibiting more than 20 shows each year of emerging and mid-career artists and provide educational opportunities for the community.
Feeling the need for more art? Your next stop is right across the street! The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 9. This contemporary museum offers works from permanent collections and national traveling exhibitions. You’ll also enjoy their unique gifts.
Detour alert! If you’d like to see the Old Fort, a reproduction of our original Fort, you can head north on Lafayette at the Museum of Art. Just across the bridge, you will find the Old Fort, whose grounds are open to explore at any time!
After leaving the Museum of Art, head west on Main St. You will pass the Arts United Center and Freimann Square on your right and the Allen County Courthouse, 10, on your left. Feel free to stop and take a look at this national historic landmark. (Although open to the public, they ask that you not bring any phones or cameras into the courthouse.)
Getting hungry? There are two Fort Wayne favorites to choose from close by. The first is located about half a block west on Main St. - Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island, 11. Try their famous Coney Dogs and coke from a glass bottle! The second option will be later on your route: Cindy’s Diner, 12: an authentic ‘50s diner. Serving the “Whole World” 15 at a time! Breakfast served any time.
If you choose not to stop for lunch, you will turn right on Calhoun Street and then left on Columbia. You are now on a very important historical street known as The Landing, 13. Once a stop along the Wabash-Erie Canal, The Landing has new life today as a residential, commercial and retail hotspot!
After traveling the delightful block of Columbia Street, you are only steps away from Riverfront Fort Wayne’s new Promenade Park – a destination in itself! Promenade Park, 14, offers family fun, river access, dining options and more!
If you are able tear yourself away, head back into downtown by traveling south on Harrison Street, travel for two blocks, then turn right on Berry and left on Webster. You will pass Cindy’s Diner and have come to the Allen County Public Library, 15, which is home to the The Genealogy Center: location of the nation’s largest public genealogy collection, and housed in a brand new, $65 million facility!
On your way back to the Grand Wayne Center you can stop at the Firefighter’s Museum, 16. Located in historic Engine House No. 3, this museum showcases artifacts used by some of the city’s earliest heroes - the firefighters.
Just a block away, you will see Parkview Field, 17, home to TinCaps Baseball. If you’d like, you can stroll through this stadium, it is open as a public park on all non-game days.
For a birds-eye view, head to the top floor of the neighboring Hampton Inn, 18, where you can enjoy a drink and overlook the ballpark from Conner’s Rooftop!
Then, simply cross the street and you have returned to the Grand Wayne Center and Fort Wayne Visitors Center!
See Map for suggested route. For more information, stop into the Visitors Center, located on the corner of Harrison and Washington at 927 S. Harrison Street.
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