Published November 15th, 2023

Photography by Maureen Littlejohn unless otherwise noted.

I had heard about Fort Wayne for a couple of years from friends. It was walkable, historic, and had one of the United States’s best genealogy centers. Interested in tracing my family tree, I was hooked. Plus, it was only a six-hour drive from Toronto.

THE ART

Where to Stay

My choice of accommodation was the Bradley Hotel. A collaboration between Vera Bradley (the coveted, quilted women’s tote bag company) co-founder Barbara Bradley Backgaard and Provenance Hotels, the stylish accommodation was bursting with colour, patterns, and quirky charm. Plus, it was right downtown.

The Landing

While out for a stroll after checking in, I came upon The Landing. Originally built in the mid-1800s, it was a depot and dock for Wabash and Erie Canal boat traffic. Now it’s a buzzy block with restaurants and retail. Thomas Edison even lived in the area for a short spell when he came to town to work as a telegraph operator.

Stunning Glass Art

At the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, a highlight was the new permanent glass wing. Showcasing nearly 400 glass sculptures, the museum has elevated glass from decorative to fine art. The most amazing piece was a life-sized kimono created by Markow & Norris out of woven glass strands.

THE FAMILY

Genealogy Genius

The next day I made my way to Allen County Public Library’s Geneology Center.

“We are the very best genealogy center in the Milky Way Galaxy,” proclaimed Curt Witcher, the library’s director of special collections.

The walls were lined with archival material, from telephone books to ships’ passenger manifests. Witcher explained there were 1.2 million articles in their collection and they are connected to top genealogy databases, including the Mormon’s FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.

You can connect with them in person, by phone, or by email. They also offer online workshops. And it’s all free.

I had given them my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents birth, marriage and death dates a few months in advance of my visit. When I arrived, I was presented with a massive binder filled with threads going back to the 1700s in Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Thrilling. It will be my fireside reading this winter.

Abraham Lincoln Connection

The Rolland Center, dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, was under the same roof. It opened in 2022 and houses more than 30,000 artifacts related to the president who lived in Indiana as a boy. A virtual exhibit allows you to look at some of the family album photos, including one of Mary Todd Lincoln with Lincoln’s shadowy so-called spirit. (https://www.friendsofthelincolncollection.org)

Sweet Ride on the Sweet Breeze

Afterward, the outdoors was calling so I opted to take the 0.5 mile trek from The Rolland Center and to take a tour on the Sweet Breeze replica canal boat. The boat plies the three rivers that converge in Fort Wayne; the Saint Mary River, the Maumee River, and the Saint Joseph River. As we glided along, our guide told us of the city’s history, including its founding in 1794 by General Anthony “Mad” Wayne. Wayne fought, and won, a battle against Native Americans led by Chief Little Turtle. Little Turtle called him “the general who never sleeps.”

5 OTHER COOL THINGS TO DO IN FORT WAYNE

Take an art walk. Downtown parking lots and alleyways have been brought alive with gorgeous murals.

Kayak from Promenade Park. Fort Wayne Outfitters set you up to paddle the three rivers.

Eat at Electric Works. The former General Electric plant is 40 acres of rehabbed, mixed-use work/live spaces. Check out Union Street Market, a food hall and public market where culinary wizards serve up seafood, BBQ, Mexican, and more.

Take time to smell the roses…at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Depending on the time of year, you can enjoy a bevy of blooms in this downtown oasis.

Strum to your heart’s content at Sweetwater. No matter what your instrument, this 40,000-square-foot music emporium has it. Plus there’s a fantastic cafeteria.

3 SWEET TREATS

GK Café and Provisions: Fresh-baked pastries and coffee.

Brooklyn Pints Microcreamery: Ice cream, homemade waffle cones, vegan options, and unusual flavors.

DeBrand Fine Chocolates: Deluxe quality from a local maker.

3 DELICIOUS DINING OPTIONS

Cindy’s Diner: 1950s 15-seater open for breakfast and lunch.

The Deck: On the St. Mary’s River, a summer go-to spot with classic American fare.

Proximo: Delicious Latino dishes such as Red Snapper Veracruz served in an upscale environment.

7 FUN ATTRACTIONS AN HOUR OUTSIDE TOWN

The Village at Winona: Sweet lake community with restaurants and artisanal retail.

Country Heritage Winery: family-owned farm and Indiana winery of the Year winner in 2017. https://countryheritagewinery.com/

Warsaw Cut Glass Company: One of the last American facilities to produce beautiful hand-cut crystal.

Whetstone Woodenware: Handmade wooden spoons and other kitchen utensils. Sold worldwide.

Joseph Decuis: Fine dining featuring Wagyu beef raised on the restaurant owners’ farm.

Two-EEs Winery: Voted best tasting room by USA Today 10 Best.

Annie Oakley Perfumery: The only perfumery whose products are completely created in the U.S. You can even blend your own.

Family, Art, Food & More in Fort Wayne, Indiana