For many, the word "history" brings to mind the dates of significant events or historical figures. Yet there is so much more to the preservation and study of past events, particularly in our own backyard. Though the History Center makes a point to share the big events in northeast Indiana's past, we know that the everyday stories of people like you and me are uniquely capable of connecting people across borders and even across time. Despite the many ways in which we have changed from generation to generation, we find common ground, quite literally, in the shared stories of our daily life right here at home, finding ourselves closer together than we could have imagined.
The stories of daily life in Fort Wayne provide a link to earlier generations in deep, personal ways. These treasured items, often passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the lives of Fort Wayne residents over time and a richer understanding of our city's history.
Life for the residents of Allen County changed dramatically during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Through social changes, technological advancements and improving communication, life in Fort Wayne continued to move rapidly forward. Social, political, and cultural change tremendously affected the daily lives of the people of the community, yet with a nod to the past, the residents of Fort Wayne moved solidly into the future.
Be sure to visit our virtual exhibit page again in June to view the next installment of 200@200.
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.
