Fort Wayne (2)

Fort Wayne (2) (1843-1949) - First established in 1843 as a Northern Frontier Fort in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Named after General Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War General and hero. Transferred to the City of Detroit in 1949.

Fort Wayne Barracks 1934	Fort Wayne Plan
Fort Wayne Powder Magazine 1934

Early Years

Construction began in 1843 under the supervision of Lt. Montgomery C. Meigs. The fortification was a star shaped Vauban style structure originally built with cedar faced earthen walls. The cedar facing was later replaced with brick and concrete. Among the buildings inside the walls were three story limestone enlisted barracks, officer housing and a powder magazine. In front of the southeast wall was a detached triangular demi-lune to protect the water side and provide additional waterside firepower. Two sallyports were built onto the interior angle walls of the east bastion, the northeast sallyport served as the main entrance to the fort while the southeast sallyport provided access to the demilune. The south bastion contained a parade level stone magazine while each of the other bastions had smaller magazines accessed from the top of the bastion. Initial construction on the fort was completed in 1851 at a cost $150,000.

After completion the fort was placed on caretaker status with a single caretaker watching the fort. It is unclear if the fort was ever armed with cannons

U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)

The U.S. Civil War reactivated Fort Wayne and initiated more construction. The post served as a recruiting depot and processing center for Union recruits and as a recuperation center for returning veterans. Additional construction continued until the post closed.

In the period following the U.S. Civil War the post became a replacement garrison for units rotating west to the Indian Wars. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the post served as a mustering point for troops headed for Cuba and the Philippines.

World War I (1917-1918)

During World War I Fort Wayne began to serve as an acquisition center for military motor vechicles and parts. The Army had not yet motorized and was essentially still horse drawn but by the end of the war the process of conversion was well under way.

World War II (1941-1945)

Fort Wayne continued to serve as a training and logistics center throughout World War II. In May 1949, title to the post was transferred to the City of Detroit with a stipulation that it would remain a historical monument. Parts of the post continued to support mobilizations and demobilizations through the Vietnam War and a portion of the post is in use today by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Current Status

Must See! Portions of the post are restored. Original buildings remaining include one 1848 limestone barracks (with later brick additions) and the 1845 star fortification with the brick facing. Outside the star fort are building from the 1870s and 1890s-1900s. An additional entrance to the fort has been cut through the west bastion to provide access from the star fort to the later period structures. Later period fort buildings surround the original star fort including large brick barracks, an officer's row, an NCO row, two different era guardhouses, a headquarters building and several multi-family married officers quarters.

Operated by Detroit Recreation Department, assisted by the Friends of Fort Wayne, the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, and the Detroit Historical Society. Access is by conducted tour and budget restrictions have limited when those can be conducted, always call ahead. Great folks working there but some of their hours are limited.

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Location: Detroit City, Wayne County, Michigan. Maps & Images Lat: 42.2994827 Long: -83.0960332 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 597'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 424

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Wayne (2)
• Wikipedia - Fort Wayne

Visited: 16 Aug 2013

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