Founded at the confluence of three rivers—the St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and the hence formed Maumee—Fort Wayne stands astride a rich and storied history that begins with the 1792 order issued by Pres. George Washington for Maj. Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne to secure and construct a permanent fortification at the headwaters of the Maumee. Wayne arrived on September 17, 1794, and a fortification was constructed and dedicated as Fort Wayne on October 21, 1794. In the ensuing 200-plus years, a thriving city of over 250,000 persons has emerged. Postcard History Series: Fort Wayne celebrates the growth and success of this city during the first half of 20th century.
Randolph Harter, local history buff and collector of vintage Fort Wayne postcards, has written a time-traveling, visual history of the city. In addition to his personal collection of nearly 3,000 local vintage postcards, he has drawn on those contributed by other private collectors to express much of what has been locally lost to progress and time.