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The Mission of ARCH is to advocate for the protection and preservation of historically and culturally significant assets and historic places in Allen County and northeast Indiana.
Enjoy and explore Fort Wayne and Allen County during Historic Preservation Month
Calendar of events
SATURDAY, APRIL 26th: 2PM In Search of the Forts of Fort Wayne: Archaeology Downtown (Cinema Center Auditorium). The IPFW Archaeological Survey searched in 2007 for Anthony Wayne’s fort and for the first French fort in what is now the downtown area. Learn about the project at this all-ages program. Free. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
DURING MAY
10AM - 5PM Monday-Friday and 12PM - 5PM Saturdays Visit The History Center, located in Fort Wayne’s historic old city hall (302 E. Berry Street). See exhibits detailing the community’s history from the Ice Age to the Space Age. Also see The Faces of Lincoln, with images of Abe Lincoln’s Hoosier youth – a special exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society until May 16th. Adults $5; Seniors and Students $3; age 5 and under free. Call 426-2882 or visit www.fwhistorycenter.com.
10AM - 5PM Tuesday-Saturday and 1PM – 5PM Sundays Visit the Lincoln Museum (200 E. Berry St.), displaying the world’s largest private collection dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. Free admission until the museum closes to the public on June 30. Visit www.thelincolnmuseum.org or call 455-3864.
THURSDAY, MAY 1st
6:30PM My House is Historic—Now What? (Carnegie Public Library, Angola). Whether your house has been listed as Historic, or you think it might be, this presentation will cover the ins and outs of living and working in these special buildings. Suggestions for: maintenance, potential tax credits, and guidelines for making repairs and improvements. Free. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
FRIDAY, MAY 2nd
10AM - 4PM Historic Swinney Homestead (1424 W. Jefferson). Herb Sale and Open House by Settlers, Inc. Free. Call 424-7212 for details.
1PM - 2:30PM Downtown Treasures (Meet at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1021 S. Calhoun Street.) A walking tour of downtown Fort Wayne; includes historic and architectural treasures and interesting local folklore. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
SATURDAY, MAY 3rd
7AM - 1PM South Side Farmers Market (3300 Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne). Visit this authentic 1926 Farmers Market with wood-stoves and old-fashioned charm. The market is listed as a Local Historic District. Enjoy early season produce, annual flowers, perennials, and more.
8AM - 12PM Historic Swinney Homestead (1424 W. Jefferson) - Herb Sale (only). Call 424-7212 for details
1PM - 4PM Chief Richardville House Tour and Miami Indian Heritage Day (5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne). Tours of the 1827 Treaty House built for the civil chief of the Miami Nation; the oldest house in Northeast Indiana. Also enjoy the Painted Turtle Drummers and Miami Indian demonstrators and artisans. Adults, $7; Students and Seniors, $5; Age 5 and under free. Call 426-2882 for details.
SUNDAY, MAY 4th
1PM - 4PM Allen County Courthouse Tour See why our courthouse truly is a National Historic Landmark! For details visit www.allencountycourthouse.org or call 449-4246 to schedule private tours or events. Free.
2PM George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series (History Center, 302 East Berry Street). Donn Werling presents Down on the Farm. Following the lecture, History Center members are invited to visit the historic 1856 Werling farm. Free. Call 426-2882 ext. 306 for details.
FRIDAY, MAY 9th
10AM - 5PM Salomon Farm Park (817 W. Dupont Rd). Fiber Arts Celebration set on a historic farmstead. A sheep shearing, wool dying, yarn spinning, hands-on event! Free admission and parking. Call 427-6005 for details.
SATURDAY, MAY 10th
7AM - 1PM South Side Farmers Market, (3300 Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne). An authentic 1926 Farmers Market.
10AM - 5PM Salomon Farm Park (817 W. Dupont Rd). Fiber Arts Celebration. A sheep shearing, wool dying, yarn spinning, hands-on event! Free admission and parking. Call 427-6005 for details.
SUNDAY, MAY 11th – Mother’s Day
2PM - 3:30PM Southwood Park Stroll. (Meet at the Foster Park Baseball Diamonds, on Hartman Road). Celebrate Mother’s Day in the gardens at historic Foster Park; then join ARCH to tour a historic c.1917-1960 residential suburb. Southwood Park is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. $5 adults; $2 children with adult. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
3PM Pops on Pipes Embassy Theatre (125 West Jefferson Blvd.) A vaudeville-themed concert on the historic Grande Page Pipe Organ, featuring Scott Foppiano. Visit www.fwembassytheatre.org or call the Embassy Box Office at 424-5665 for details.
TUESDAY, MAY 13th
11:30AM Dedication of the Illsley Place historic marker within the Illsley Place-West Rudisill Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Call 427-1127 for details.
THURSDAY, MAY 15th
6:30PM Architectural Styles of Steuben County (Kline Museum, 320 E. Maumee St., Angola). Discover the rich architectural heritage of Steuben County uncovered during the recent survey of historic sites and structures by ARCH. Free. Call 426-5117 for details.
SATURDAY, MAY 17th
7AM - 1PM South Side Farmers Market (3300 Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne). An authentic 1926 Farmers Market.
11AM - 8PM Muster on the St. Mary’s: A Time Line Event at Old Fort Wayne (Spy Run Ave.) Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War reenactments; education about life from the birth of our nation to when the nation was divided. For details call 460-4763 or visit www.oldfortwayne.org.
SUNDAY, MAY 18th
11AM - 4PM Muster on the St. Mary’s: A Time Line Event at Old Fort Wayne (Spy Run Ave.)
TUESDAY, MAY 20th
6:30PM The Historic Architecture of Lagrange County (Lagrange Public Library, 203 W. Spring St., Lagrange). ARCH has recently completed the Lagrange Historic Sites and Structures inventory, and will share the findings, including potential National Register sites, and surprises found along the way. Free. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21st
10AM - 11:30AM Historic Walking Tour: West Central (Community Center, 233 W. Main St.) Exercise and history! Walking tour of West Central District covers nearly 2 miles and historic homes and businesses. Rain or shine. Call 427-6460 by May 20 to register; fee $2.
SATURDAY, MAY 24th
7AM – 1PM South Side Farmers Market (3300 Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne). An authentic 1926 Farmers Market.
MONDAY, MAY 26th – Memorial Day
Visit historic Memorial Park, home to sculptural memorials that honor World War One dead and pioneer aviator Art Smith; or take a walk through Lindenwood Cemetery, est.1859 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28th
Buy tickets soon for the Oakdale Home and Garden Tour – June 28 from 11AM – 5PM. This annual ARCH event celebrates historic homes and neighborhoods throughout the city. In 2008 the Oakdale Neighborhood is featured; much of the area is a district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
SATURDAY, MAY 31st
7AM - 1PM South Side Farmers Market (3300 Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne). Open Saturdays through Thanksgiving.
9AM - 12PM Fort Wayne Historic Preservation Gathering (Cinema Center, 437 E. Berry Street, Fort Wayne). Share coffee and donuts, while visiting with others who share an interest in historic preservation. Share your successes, challenges, and ideas with others! Free. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
2PM - 3:30PM West Central Wander (Meet at Mary Rockhill-Tyler House, 918 Van Buren Street). Walk through this Historic Neighborhood, Fort Wayne’s best known historic district. Adults $5; children $2 with adult. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
2PM - 4PM Mary Rockhill-Tyler House; Open House and Plant Sale (918 Van Buren Street). Tour this tiny treasure, built c. 1840, while enjoying live music and refreshments. $2 donation suggested. Heirloom flower and vegetable seeds, and live plants will also be available for purchase. Call ARCH at 426-5117 for details.
Learn more about the city’s historic resources, preservation programs, and about the tools available to celebrate, protect, and develop our heritage. Visit the Fort Wayne Historic Preservation Commission’s website at www.CityofFortWayne.org/preservation, or call 260-427-1127
Help preserve your architectural and community heritage. Contact ARCH at 260-426-5117 or visit www.archfw.org
All ARCH activities are part of the Community Education Program, sponsored in part by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Wilson Foundation, English Bonter Mitchell Foundation and Lincoln Financial Group Foundation.
Learn more about our area’s heritage and early history of Fort Wayne and Allen County by calling the History Center at 260-426-2882, or by visiting www.fwhistorycenter.com..