The History Center — Attraction in Fort Wayne

Tldr: Woof does this place whitewash history like no tomorrow.

Recently a friend and I were downtown and, intrigued by the History Center signs, we decided to check out the museum. Half of the building was undergoing major physical renovations, but in our eyes the real overhaul needed to happen to outdated plaques and phrasings. Such as a plaque in the ~1800s section that said “People were conquered. Geology was conquered” in that casual way, as if genoc*de is a very normal and everyday thing that isn’t in the least concerning or something to discuss and wrestle with beyond the barest of acknowledgements. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, after whom the city was named, was venerated instead of approached with a critical or even neutral lens. We also wondered whether the indigenous artifacts belonged there or had ever been offered back to the tribes they came from.

There was also, in a more modern history section about innovations over the last century or so, a few interactive stations that felt like advertisements for local businesses (Sweetwater, Vera Bradley) rather than relevant historical pieces.

We did not choose to visit the jail in the basement. Instead, we accidentally walked into a half-constructed exhibit room that had no signs or warnings on the outside of the room alerting visitors to its incomplete state. If you’re going to keep a museum open during renovations, there should be clear signage to direct traffic and ensure visitors stay safe and don’t unintentionally wander into active construction zones.

All of that to say: This museum is highly unprofessional and problematic. History museums should no longer be shying away from confronting the ugliness of the US’s past. It’s embarrassing and, frankly, disgusting to see an institution dedicated to sharing history so committed to propping up colonialism and a...

I visited the History Center with my son's preschool class. We attended the annual Festival of Gingerbread there last month. Parking was a bit of a nightmare here considering more than half of the parking spaces are for city vehicles and the lot is quite small. Parking is not super convenient when walking with small children in the cold. The building, exhibits, and displays are fun to look at and learn about the history of Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. The old jail is in the basement here, too. I am a native of Fort Wayne but had never been to the former jail area downstairs, so I thought that was cool. Overall, it was a good...

Attended the Gala Opening of the Sue Slane Gallery on the 2nd floor of the History Center in September, 2023! Very impressive showcase of many inventions and historical events that have shaped and forged Fort Wayne in the history books of today! A great experience to step back in history and view the people and places that have made Fort Wayne what it is today!! A very good Friend of Sue's and coworker at St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne,...