The History Center

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The History Center The home of the collection of the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society.
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To serve present and future generations by collecting, preserving, and sharing historical artifacts, documents, and images that describe the people, places, and events that define Fort Wayne and Allen County history. We also own the Chief Richardville House at 5705 Bluffton Road and the Barr Street Market, immediately behind the museum.

Every year during the end of October as the leaves begin to fall our world starts to look drab due to the loss of color....
10/22/2026

Every year during the end of October as the leaves begin to fall our world starts to look drab due to the loss of color. In order to combat this dreariness, we celebrate National Color Day on October 22. On this day we celebrate the vibrant and powerful role color plays in our lives and take time to appreciate how color affects our moods, communicates ideas, and adds breathtaking beauty to our world. Today we share some colorful objects from our collection and encourage you to liven up your world with some color!

Sports play a large role in the lives of the people of Allen County, with different types of sports happening all year l...
10/20/2026

Sports play a large role in the lives of the people of Allen County, with different types of sports happening all year long. One of the most popular sports is basketball. It comes from a variety of different sources: schools, industrial leagues, summer leagues, professional teams, intramurals and church leagues. One place that had a basketball team was First Methodist Church (today First Wayne Street United Methodist) in downtown Fort Wayne. First Methodist had an intramural basketball team starting around 1945 and played other local churches until about 1955. Here are some recent additions to our collection featuring the First Methodist Basketball team from their years of existence.

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, as The History Center participates in Fright Night 2026!Are you brave enough to ...
10/16/2026

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, as The History Center participates in Fright Night 2026!

Are you brave enough to discover Fort Wayne’s past?

Step back in time to the darker side of Fort Wayne’s past with a visit to the Old City Hall Building. Visit the iron cells where generations of inmates were locked up in the Old City Jail, and discover artifacts of those who broke laws, as well as those who upheld them throughout Fort Wayne history. Take your very own mug-shot to remember your visit! Glimpse the decayed remnants of General Wayne’s actual coffin, and enjoy Mad Anthony’s Monster Mix Candy Mash-Up as you stroll the creaking floors of the History Center.

The History Center’s Fright Night Activities will take place from 3 – 7 PM. Admission for Fright Night is $4 per person.

While the celebration was a year late due to the lack of funding in a previous effort, Fort Wayne marked its first centu...
10/15/2026

While the celebration was a year late due to the lack of funding in a previous effort, Fort Wayne marked its first century in grand style from 15 through 18 October 1895. City residents dressed their thoroughfares with street-spanning arches, lavish bunting and electric lights and invited people from the Midwest to join them in celebration of Fort Wayne’s 100th birthday. The days were filled with activities: a bicycle race; band contests; a five-mile parade of floats, military units and marching bands; meetings of pioneers and GAR veterans; baseball games; military demonstrations; a mock battle at the old driving park; and a huge fireworks display for the finale. Perry A. Randall was an active organizer and contributor to the event while serving as the Centennial Committee president. During the opening ceremony at the Princess Rink on 15 October, Fort Wayne Mayor Chauncey B. Oakley recognized Randall for his work promoting the centennial with a key to the city: “And now, in the name of the city of Fort Wayne, and in behalf of her citizens, I declare this centennial celebration fully inaugurated, and to you, honored sir [P.A. Randall], as president of the centennial committee, I hand over the key of the city, fully believing that it could be placed in no safer hands….” The ceremonial wooden key is sixteen inches long and is painted gold.

The Parkview Methodist Hospital School of Nursing first began in 1897 when it was called Hope Hospital. The first class...
10/08/2026

The Parkview Methodist Hospital School of Nursing first began in 1897 when it was called Hope Hospital. The first class of eight women graduated in 1900. In 1903 there were twenty nurses in training. When Parkview opened its new location at State and Randallia Streets in 1953, the School of Nursing soon followed when the first students moved into an adjacent residential building in January 1954 with a capacity of 120 trainees. After ninety-four years in operation, Parkview Methodist Hospital School of Nursing closed in 1991 after having trained over 2,404 nurses at the Randallia campus. The last class of thirty-two students graduated in May 1991. After that time those interested in nursing careers were referred to Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. In 1949, the School of Nursing changed their uniforms from an all-white dress to a blue and white striped blouse, a white skirt (that was to fall one inch below the knee,) a white bib apron and a white cap. This style was last worn by the graduating class of 1969, which presented the Historical Society with this uniform. Presumably few others survived as the ladies burned the rest at the traditional burning party on the lawn behind English Hall.

On Sunday, October 4th, the History Center launched the 2026-2027 George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series. Michael Galbra...
10/05/2026

On Sunday, October 4th, the History Center launched the 2026-2027 George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series. Michael Galbraith, with special guest Karen Richards, presented “50 Years of ARCH: A Half Century Retrospective” for our first lecture, which was attended by an attentive crowd of patrons. Join us on November 1, 2026 for “Indiana Political Trailblazers” given by Geoff Paddock.

Thanks to all who came to our October presentation of Miami Indian Heritage Days on Saturday, October 3rd. M.I.A.M.I. (M...
10/05/2026

Thanks to all who came to our October presentation of Miami Indian Heritage Days on Saturday, October 3rd. M.I.A.M.I. (Miami Indian Alliance of Miami Indians) gave a fantastic presentation on Wiikiaami Cattail Matting. Join us Join us November 7th and 8th for Traders Days.

It’s time once again to draw your plans, heat your ovens, and start designing a truly unique gingerbread house for the H...
10/05/2026

It’s time once again to draw your plans, heat your ovens, and start designing a truly unique gingerbread house for the History Center’s 41st Annual Festival of Gingerbread! Fill out a registration and send it back to us before the November 13th deadline. We are always happy to welcome new gingerbread artisans of all ages and talents!

This year’s registration form can be found under the Festival of Gingerbread tab on our website,https://fwhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fog-entry-form-2026-09.21.2026.pdf

The game of golf is one of the area’s most popular sporting events, which stretches from Spring through Fall, and is oft...
10/04/2026

The game of golf is one of the area’s most popular sporting events, which stretches from Spring through Fall, and is often relaxing for its participants. It gained popularity in Fort Wayne in the late nineteenth century, with several courses established before 1900 and several in the county being founded just after World War I. Each year on October 4, National Golf Lovers Day is celebrated around the nation. This date was chosen as it was when the first US Open Championship was held in 1895 in Rhode Island. During this unique holiday, take some time and hit the links and enjoy this sampling of golf items from our collection.

10/03/2026

Join the the History Center, Saturday October 3 for Miami Indian Heritage Days, at the Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Learn about the lasting heritage of the Miami and other regional Native American groups Local artists, performers and presenters will be featured the first Saturday of the month, May to November, from 1-4 pm. M.I.A.M.I. (Miami Indian Alliance of Miami Indians) will demonstrate Wiikiaami Cattail Matting on October 3rd.

The Chief Richardville House, or akima pinšiwa awiiki, is recognized as the oldest Native American structure in the Midwest. Admission to Miami Indian Heritage Days includes a guided tour of this National Historic Landmark. Admission for each Saturday event is $9 for adults and $7 for youth and seniors. History Center members and children age 2 and under are free.

Join the History Center on Sunday, October 4 as we will begin the 2026-2027 George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series. On Sunday, October 4, “50 Years of ARCH: A Half Century Retrospective,” will be presented by Michael Galbraith. Although historic preservation and historical museums are close cousins, preserving the built landscape of buildings, bridges, and landscapes is a separate discipline. ARCH, the historic preservation organization for Fort Wayne, Allen County and Northeast Indiana recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. In this lecture, Galbraith will explore some of the success stories, lessons from failure and unique challenges over the past fifty years.

The lecture begins at 2 PM and admission is free to the public. All George R. Mather lectures are made possible through the generous support of the Floyd and Betty Lou Lancia Family Foundation.

Address

302 E Berry Street
Fort Wayne, IN
46802

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(260) 426-2882

Website

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