Fort Wayne’s humble beginnings
The area that is now Fort Wayne, IN was once a settlement of the Miami nation of native Americans called Kekionga. The Miami were visited by French Missionaries in 1676 on their way back from a missionary to Lake Michigan. By the 1680′s the French had established a post there because it was on a crucial portage route from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. By the late 1690′s the French had established Fort Miamis as one of a series of forts built by the French from Quebec to St. Louis. From the 1690′s on trade routes were established through out the area and the region prospered. In the 1770′s under the direction of General George Washington the Indiana territory became under the control of the United States and began the influx of population, being mainly Europeans moving westward from newly established coastal states in the east. The city of Fort Wayne, IN was finally incorporated officially in February of 1840. With the construction of the Wabash and Erie canals Fort Wayne flourished and prospered until the building of the Railroads reducing traffic on the canals greatly.
Fort Wayne is located on the Great Plains in fairly flat territory along the banks of the St. Mary and St. Joseph Rivers. These rivers converge to form the Maurnee River which flows tot eh north and west emoting into Lake Erie. With marshes and wet lands to the south and west of the city of Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne is great place for bird watching, fishing and experiencing what the rivers have to offer. Many hotels Fort Wayne will be able to help you in finding out the best places to go for wildlife viewing. North and east of Fort Wane is
Fort Wayne experiences 4 distinct seasons. Winter can be cold and snow fall can be frequent. Summers are hot and fairly humid. Spring and fall tend to be more temperated and the humidity lower.