Fort Wayne, 6325 W. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit MI

This historic fort from the 1800s is in terrible shape and has very limited open hours. There were no tour guides on duty when we visited so we had a random, self-guided walking tour. These photos were all taken during this June 2022 visit.

 Before the fort was built, the American government and Native Americans leaders signed the Treaty of Spring Wells near here in 1815.

There is a preserved Native American burial mound on the property, one of the oldest Native American burial sites in southeast Michigan.

No shots were ever fired here, and for every U.S. conflict from the Civil War to Viet Nam, this location was a primary induction center for Michigan troops.

Fort Wayne also was used a a procurement location for vehicles and weapons during both world wars, and during WWII it housed Italian prisoners of war. Following Detroit's 1967 riots, the fort served as home for many families whose own homes had been burned.

The following photos are from the 1845 star fort (renovated in 1861), and the original 1848 limestone barracks.

The rest of the buildings were all built outside of the old fort and are all in various degrees of disrepair. Nature is slowly taking it all back over.

Woodland Indian Museum was not open (as were none of the others).

The Officers Row was somewhat better preserved.

Here are the rest of the structures we found.

The City of Detroit currently owns the property and has obviously struggled to maintain it much less restore it. Its website currently states that guided tours are available on most Saturdays at 11 and 2, until October. Visit this historic fort while you can!