Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne was the name of at least two historic forts in the United States of America; one of these gave its name to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne in current Fort Wayne, Indiana was established by Captain John Hamtramck under orders from General Anthony Wayne as part of the campaign against the Indians of the area. It was named after General Wayne who had defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Wayne may have chosen the name himself - the fort was dedicated the day after he left it. The fort was officially occupied on October 21, 1794. The fort was a basic stockade with few buildings located at the corner of present Berry and Clay Avenues.

In 1798, Hamtramck was transferred to Fort Detroit - later the site of another Fort Wayne, and near to the future town of Hamtramck, Michigan. Colonel Thomas Hunt took command of the fort in Indiana and built a substantial new one several hundred yards north of the original. It contained multiple guard houses and Indian "factories" (trading posts). The first fort was demolished about 1800.

During the War of 1812, Fort Dearborn (in present Chicago) was evacuated and the residents tried to reach Fort Wayne but were massacred. Fort Wayne was next besieged by the Indian forces of Tecumseh during the Siege of Fort Wayne. Captain James Rhea was in charge of the fort and considered surrender before his two lieutenants relieved him of duty. General William Henry Harrison arrived on September 12, 1812 and broke the siege. Captain Rhea was formally relieved of duty and one of the lieutenants, named Ostrander, was given official command of the fort.

After the war, a town began growing around the fort. A third fort was built in 1816 by Major John Whistler. The fort was officially abandoned on April 19, 1819 and its contents shipped to Fort Detroit.

Fort Wayne, Detroit

Fort Wayne was the third fort built in Detroit. Built in 1844-1847, the fort is a star-pattern fort with walls of earthen ramparts covering vaulted brick tunnels containing artillery ports. Artillery was also placed atop the walls. There is a dry moat surrounding the fort. The fort is located on the Detroit River at a point where it is about a mile to the Canadian shore. It was built against a perceived British threat during the dispute over the Oregon Territory. Lieut. Montgomery C. Meigs oversaw construction of the fort. The fort was sited on 90 acres (360,000 m²) and contained barracks, officers quarters, hospital, shops, recreation building, commissary, guard house, garage, and stables. Building continued on the site until 1931.

The fort was used as a training base for Michigan volunteers during the Civil War. The U.S. Army did not formally occupy the fort until 1866. It was used as an induction center in World War I and became the largest vehicle depot in the world in World War II. It continued to be used as an induction center in the Korean War and early in the Vietnam War.

Buildings and grounds were handed over piecemeal to the Detroit Historical Society between 1964 and 1971. As of 2004, 15 acres (61,000 m²) of the original base continue to be used as an Army Corps of Engineers' boatyard.

The fort was used to provide housing to displaced families after the 1967 12th Street Riot.

The fort is sometimes open for tourists depending on the financial health of the city. Also on the grounds are Great Lakes Indian Museum and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum. It hosts historic reenactments (usually Civil War), cross-border rugby matches, Boy Scout events and is open for some civic events like the 300th birthday of Detroit and sometimes the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival.

• Historic Fort Wayne (Detroit) official site (http://www.detroithistorical.org/aboutus/fortwayne.asp)
• Save Fort Wayne (Detroit), unofficial site (http://www.savefortwayne.org/)
• Aerial color photo of Fort Wayne in Detroit and surroundings (http://terraserver-usa.com/usgsentry.aspx?T=4&S=11&Z=17&X=818&Y=11712&W=3&qs=%7cdetroit%7cmichigan%7c)