The U.S. Army was instrumental in building Fort Wayne in 1794 under the watchful eye of Anthony Wayne, a famous general in the revolutionary war. It is the last in several forts that the army erected in the Kekionga Miami village. Fort Wayne was named to honor General Wayne, who focused on building this European-American settlement strategically at the confluence of the St. Mary's, Maumee, and St. Joseph's rivers. The region received much attention throughout the years, especially from land-thirsty wealthy Americans. This move caused an increased conflict between Native Americans and the Western Confederacy union. As is typical with conflict, there are always casualties. The friction caused people to be internally displaced, and they sought to settle in other regions. Miami state gracefully accepted two tribes, the Delaware and Shawnee. These refugees settled at Kekionga village and developed a trading point at the confluence of three rivers; Maumee, St. Joseph, and St. Mary. The trading point prompted officials to draw a plan for a small town in 1823. This plan underwent development to become one of the most thriving towns in the region. As the city continued to grow, the crime rate increased. The increased crime prompted the city officials to take action and revitalize the downtown area in the 1990s. Outcomes of these strategies were felt in 1998 when the corruption rate declined by 2.4%, promoting a thriving economy. Fort Wayne continued to grow with time, and authorities invested in implementing new amenities. Some of the iconic structures included the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne Museum, and the mega Fort Wayne Convention Center. Other mega infrastructure projects included the Parkview field and Harrison Square. Fort Wayne is strategically located in the Rust Belt, a region renowned as a major manufacturing hub. This strategic location enabled the city to experience explosive growth. Consequently, the economy stabilized across all sectors; hospitality, transportation, healthcare, business, distribution, and professional services.

Fort Wayne, IN, is the hub of fun and entertainment. While there's a lot to do, we've narrowed the list for you. Discover thrilling experiences from children's zoos, sports complexes, and getaway date nights.

Here is a shortlist of Fort Wayne's favorite attractions and spots to visit:

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory and Historic Fort Wayne are in the downtown section. If you love the water, try out the Hurshtown Reservoir close to Grabill. This reservoir is an impressively large body of water in Allen County and is popular with water sports enthusiasts for sailing and fishing.

Sports: Fort Wayne enjoys a reputation as being the NBAs birthplace because Carl Bennett, the Pistons' coach, negotiated a merger between the BAA and the NBL in 1948 from his Alexander Street home

The American Alliance of Museums has celebrated the Fort Wayne Museum of Art with accreditation because it specializes in collecting and showcasing American art.