Icon: (noun) a widely known symbol
"Objects in general, and icons in particular, are the building blocks of reality. They are sensitive indicators of who we are, where we come from and where we intend to go." Marshall Fishwick, Icons of America
In determining what was "iconic" about Fort Wayne, the term itself brought up debate: does the word refer to people? Places? Experiences? We put the question to you, and a range of answers came back to us. Some answers were thoughtful, scholarly reflections on individuals who influenced history. Others were heartfelt reminiscences about significant memories in Fort Wayne and Allen County. What began to take shape was a spectrum of answers that speaks to the diversity of experience and values of the place we call home.
The artifacts selected for the inaugural month of 200@200 represent what resonates with many residents as icons of local history, as well as those lesser-known figures who have played key roles in shaping our community into what it is today. Individuals such as Anthony Wayne and Little Turtle, companies like International Harvester and General Electric and experiences such as shopping at Wolf & Dessauer all encompass the significance of the statement "I am from Allen County".
Be sure to visit our virtual exhibit page again in February to view the next installment of 200@200: Contention for the Confluence.
What is 200@200?
As Indiana embarked on its bicentennial anniversary and reflected on past challenges, successes, and opportunities, we too reflected on 200 years of our part of Indiana. How had Fort Wayne changed? What had we discovered? What would we take with us into the next century?
The 200@200 project was a celebration of Fort Wayne's legacy of progress throughout Indiana's 200 years of history. Using artifacts from the museum's collection of 28,000 objects, the History Center told 200 unique stories of Fort Wayne's role in the 200 years of Indiana's statehood throughout the 2016 bicentennial year. Each month highlighted a different historical theme and presented a collective mosaic of the community's shared past and present, commemorating the progress, growth, and creativity of the "Summit City." Each month's theme was featured in a virtual exhibit and in person at the History Center.
The History Center was honored to share that 200@200 had been endorsed by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission as an official Legacy Project. WANE served as the project's media sponsor.
