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If you are into architecture, pick up the self-guided tour booklets at the downtown public library or look online and bring printouts of the tours. There was a rich culture in Fort Wayne until the 1950s when a number of major companies left the city or went bankrupt. The town was built on the junction of three rivers and has a French, English and American heritage. The Wabash and Erie Canal ran through the center of the downtown. FW has a number of mansions built for railroad and canal executives still standing. Some have been restored, but are not open to the general public. Stroll along Forest Park Boulevard or take a drive down Old Mill Road if you'd like to see these mansions from the outside.
Is a museum with many interesting displays about the area, from the days before Europeans came, to modern times. Even the castle-like building is worth a careful look. Among the stories to be read there are the afternoon that hi fidelity sound (from separating the frequencies and routing them through different speakers) was invented at the local Magnavox plant. They had settled on the term "tweeter" for the small speaker, but rejected a number of other suggestions before settling on "woofer" for the big ones.
Engine House No. 3
Three indoor gardens with over 500 species of plants and 72 different cacti. They even have a children's area with human sized worm holes and a talking tree that is quite cute.
Voted one of the top ten for children by Child magazine. With over 1500 animals, from lemurs to dingo dogs, orangutans to tigers. Themed areas like the Indonesian Rainforest and the new African Journey. They also have a sky ride, zoo train, carousel, canoe ride, and pony ride. Really nice zoo! $10-$14.
Great public park along the St Joseph River. It is also the location of John Appleseed Chapman's grave. A marker and memorial exist to make finding it easy. Free