Chief Richardville House
The Chief Richardville House, built in 1827, is recognized as the oldest Native American structure in the Midwest. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville
Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville was considered the richest man in Indiana at the time of his death in 1841. His Greek Revival Style home, built in 1827, is now recognized as the oldest Native American structure in the Midwest and a unique example of a treaty house. The Chief Richardville House, in the Myaamia language the akima pinšiwa awiiki, was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Born in 1761 in Kekionga, Richardville was the son of a French fur-trader and a Miami Indian mother—Tacumwa, a female chief and the sister of Kekionga Civil Chief Paccanne. Richardville and his mother were among the earliest entrepreneurs native to the Fort Wayne and Allen County area. Together, they built a trading empire based on control of the “long portage” between the St. Marys and Little River. The “long portage” joined the Three Rivers to the Wabash River systems, connecting a pathway for commerce extending from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Chief Richardville House
In recognition of his role as a principal chief among the Miami people, the U.S. government provided $600 toward construction of a house for Richardville near the banks of the St. Marys River. The chief contributed some of his own wealth toward the house that eventually cost $2,200 when it was built in 1827. In his spacious and elegant home, he reportedly entertained some of Fort Wayne’s earliest civic leaders including Samuel Hanna, Allen Hamilton, and William Rockhill. Following Richardville’s death in 1841, the house was bequeathed through several generations of his descendants until 1908 when it passed out of the family.
The Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society acquired the property in 1991 and took on the difficult task of restoring the building’s exterior. Visitors may tour the interior of the house, where the chief and his family lived, view the large safe where he stored his wealth, and learn more about the rich Native American history of this area.
Hours & Admission
Chief Richardville House Hours (May–October)
| 1st Saturday of month | 1:00p–4:00p |
Trader Days Hours (1st weekend in November)
| Saturday | 10:00a–5:00p |
| Sunday | 12:00p–4:00p |
Regular Admission
| Adults (18–64) | $9.00 |
| Seniors (65+) | $7.00 |
| Youth (3–17) | $7.00 |
| Children 2 & Under | FREE |
| History Center Members | FREE |
School Group Admission
| DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, and Steuben Counties | FREE |
| All other school groups | $7.00 per person |
School Group visits to the Chief Richardville House are available in March, April, September, and October. To schedule a visit, please contact Education Coordinator at 260.426.2282 x309 or [email protected]
Location
Chief Richardville House
5705 Bluffton Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
