Michigan 101: Fort Wayne in Detroit, "Where No Shot Was Ever Fired In Anger"

This weekend we visited historic Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan. It was my first time at the fort.

http://www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com/fortabout.html

Some shots were fired, as these slugs embedded in the limestone facade of the 1848 Old Barracks reveal.

The building was part of the improvements made under command of Montgomery C. Meigs, completed in 1851, costing $150,000.

There has been a military site here since 1701 when Cadillac built Fort Detroit. The fort was surrendered to the British in 1760 during the French and Indian War. The Brits built a new fort and occupied it until 1796 when the Americas retook it and named it Fort Shelby. During the War of 1812 the fort was surrendered to the British without a fight. The Brits abandoned it, and the Americans moved back in!

In 1815 it was the site of the Treaty of Springwells bringing an end of hostilities between the Native Americans who had allied with the British during the war. In effect it absolved the Native Americans from 'taint of treason' for supporting the British during the war, and allied them with America.  Lewis Cass and future president General William Henry Harrison were present at the signing.  The interpreter was James Riley, brother of John Riley whose bible was passed down in my husband's family. See my post about the Riley family  here. 

The fort was named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, but a treaty was signed before the canon even arrived. The fort was then used as an infantry garrison, but was not needed until the Civil War. During WWII Italian prisoners of war were housed here. It became a primary induction center from the Civil War until Viet Nam.

http://www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com/fortabout.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Wayne_%28Detroit%29

The walk to the Sally Fort entrance.

 Entrance into the interior of the fort.

 

Inside the Star Fort is the original barracks.

Canon  mounts along the Star Fortification faces toward the Detroit River. It was built on a sand mound that was an Indian Burial Mound.

The view looks at the Detroit skyline in one direction, with the Renaissance Center (RennCen) seen behind the bridge in the distance.

Across the river is Ontario, Canada. A freighter was docked there.

 Industry along 'down river' can be seen.

 

The powder house, seen below,  is the oldest structure in the Fort.

Several boys in Civil War reenactment costumes were at the Fort. The boy holding arms told me all about the Fort's history and about the group of reenactors his father and he participated in.

The first floor of the New Barracks had this door to nowhere. It gives one a lot to think about.

The path up the hill to the cannonade is embedded limestone. How many feet have trod this land? 

The site has nineteen 1000-year-old Native American burial grounds. No wonder some think the fort is haunted. Events held at the fort include ghost hunts, war reenactments, vintage baseball games, Swing dancing, Civil War Days, Medieval Days, and an annual flea market.