Interesting places to explore in Fort Wayne: six worth a second look

Most of us drive past the best parts of our own city on the way to somewhere else. Fort Wayne is full of places that reward a slower look: a courthouse whose walls tell the county's story in paint and stone, a bank lobby with the zodiac on its ceiling, an 1893 firehouse and a museum full of glass. Here are six worth a second look, with how to visit each, and a few independent places to stop along the way.

The Allen County Courthouse

The courthouse on South Calhoun Street cost $817,000 to build in 1902, and inside, portraits, murals, sculpture and bas-relief tell Allen County's history through the nineteenth century. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and became a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

It is a working courthouse, so the visit has a few rules. Personal walking tours are free on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; pick up a guide booklet at the security desk. Docent-led tours for groups of up to 30 run on weekdays by appointment, with a suggested donation. Leave your phone in the car: cell phones and cameras aren't allowed inside during business hours.

The Lincoln Tower lobby

Across Berry Street from the courthouse, the Lincoln Tower rose 22 stories in 1930 and held the title of Indiana's tallest building until 1962. Walk through the revolving door during weekday business hours and look up: a mural two stories above the banking floor shows the sun ringed by the signs of the zodiac, set off by multicolored marble and inlaid brass. Above the revolving door, brass panels trace the life of Abraham Lincoln.

The Genealogy Center

Inside the Allen County Public Library's Main Library downtown is the Genealogy Center, which the library describes as one of the largest family history research collections anywhere, with records from around the world and specialist librarians on hand to help. You don't need to be an expert to start; staff will point a beginner to the right shelf or database. It is open seven days a week, with evening hours Monday through Thursday, and it keeps special research gateways for African American and Indigenous family history.

The Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum

On West Washington Boulevard, old Engine House No. 3 was built in 1893 for six firemen, four horses and two wagons. It grew into the city's largest firehouse by 1907, with a two-story wing and bell tower, and stayed in service until 1972. Today it houses the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum, which traces the department from its volunteer companies of 1839 through the paid department formed in 1882, with hand pumpers, steamers and artifacts donated by firefighters and their families. The museum has kept regular public hours since 2001; check its site or social pages before you go, or take its 360-degree virtual tour first.

Glass at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art on East Main Street is a ticketed stop, and this winter it leans into glass. Its Glass Wing is a permanent feature, and two exhibitions run into the new year: Luminous Bodies: Figures in Glass, through January 24, 2027, and Hot off the Grill! Glass Works by John Miller, through January 31, 2027. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with late hours on Thursdays.

Murals, sculpture and a walking map

Downtown's alleys and walls carry hundreds of murals and sculptures, many of the sculptures doubling as bike racks, and Visit Fort Wayne keeps a searchable online public art map and a printable version. A SoundWalk audio app adds stories as you walk, and the I Am Allen series of fifteen sculptures marks the county's two hundred years. It is all free and outdoors, best on a dry afternoon with a coffee in hand. For a longer walk, head to Johnny Appleseed Park on the northeast side, where his grave sits on a small mound and the Rivergreenway begins.

Where to stop along the way

For coffee, Conjure Coffee roasts in small batches and runs its Confluence café and roastery on Columbia Avenue. For a sweet stop with a mission, Good Bread for All on Broadway is an all-vegan, all-gluten-free bakery that grew from its owner's home sourdough into a storefront with a pay-it-forward program. And after the courthouse and the Lincoln Tower, The Hoppy Gnome on East Berry Street is a short walk away for lunch or weekend brunch.

Fort Wayne doesn't hide these places. It just takes a free afternoon, and a reason to stop the car.