The Fort Wayne Old City Hall Building in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana operates as a museum known as The History Center, and has served as headquarters for the Allen County–Fort Wayne Historical Society since 1980. The

Richardsonian Romanesque Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after the American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838–1886). The revival style incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish, and Italian Romanesque ...

style sandstone building was designed by the architectural firm Wing & Mahurin and built in 1893. It served as a functioning

city hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

for the city until 1971 when local officials moved to the City-County Building. ''Note:'' This includes and Accompanying photographs It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The History Center has collected 27,000 artifacts in permanent displays dedicated to the region's history, dating from the Ice Age to the 18th century to present. The Society also owns the National Historic Landmark Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville House and the Historic Barr Street Market.The History Center - Chief Richardville House
Retrieved on 2008-05-01.

Exhibits

* ''Earliest Inhabitants'', tools, weapons, a mastodon's broken rib bone and large tooth are displayed. * ''Miami Indian History'', images of

Pacanne Pacanne (c. 1737–1816) was a leading Miami chief during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Son of The Turtle (Aquenackqua), he was the brother of Tacumwah, who was the mother of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. Their family owned and co ...

, Little Turtle, and

Jean Baptiste de Richardville Jean Baptiste de Richardville ( 1761 – 13 August 1841), also known as or in the Miami-Illinois language (meaning 'Wildcat' or 'Lynx') or John Richardville in English language, English, was the last 'civil tribal chief, chief' of the Miami pe ...

displayed, along with collections on the Miami Indian capital, Kekionga. Miami chief Little Turtle's items displayed include his watch and sword presented to him by President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

. Exhibit also includes a model of a typical 18th-century Miami village. * ''Anthony Wayne'', exhibits the birth of Fort Wayne with General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's ordering of a fort to be built at the three rivers, October 22, 1794. * ''An Emerging City'', includes a model of and parts of the Wabash and Erie Canal, attributed to turning the city into a boom-town in the 19th century. * ''Industry'', includes a recreation of a blacksmith shop, as well as noting Fort Wayne resident

Sylvanus Bowser Sylvanus Freelove Bowser (August 8, 1854October 3, 1938) was an American inventor who is widely credited with inventing the automobile fuel pump. Bowser Avenue in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana is named after him. Bowser marketed his paten ...

, creator of the self-measuring gasoline pump. * ''Allen County Innovation'', a new gallery opened in 2012, features a number of the products that were created and produced by entrepreneurs in Fort Wayne and Allen County. City Hall Ft W IN 2

References

External links

*
The History CenterThe History Center Digital Collections
{{Fort Wayne, Indiana City and town halls on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Former seats of local government National Register of Historic Places in Fort Wayne, Indiana Government buildings completed in 1893 History centers History museums in Indiana Museums in Fort Wayne, Indiana Romanesque Revival architecture in Indiana