A tour through history

On Saturday, May 6, AARP sponsored tours of the Allen County Courthouse, putting a local gem on display. How’d we make it happen, and why is it important to celebrate local history?

By Becky Weimerskirch, AARP Indiana volunteer

I have been a volunteer with AARP for several years as a part of my community advocacy efforts. I also volunteer for the Court House Preservation Trust as a docent leading tours of this beautiful building just for the fun of it.

As I thought about how can I help these two organizations that I am a part of and care about, I thought about bringing older people into this historic treasure and offering AARP a fantastic venue to draw a large number of Fort Wayne residents together for an engaging event.


Tour participants get a look at the Allen County Courthouse.


As a volunteer, it was very rewarding to see an idea come to fruition.

More than 100 people attended this first-time, free event. AARP Indiana, the local office for the nationwide organization, used its resources, including print publications and social media to promote the event to members. Additionally, the event was highlighted in the AARP Magazine, the world’s most circulated periodical.

Why so much excitement about a county courthouse?

The Allen County Courthouse entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2003. It is a classic example of Beaux Art. The major features include the tile floors, art glass, ornamentation, murals, and scagliola.

It was dedicated in 1902 as a gift to future generations and a vision of a great future for the City of Three Rivers. The investment at that time was more than $800,000 – about ten times the average cost of a county courthouse at the time.

The reason we were able to show off this landmark in all of its grandeur:  the hard work of the Allen County Courthouse Historic Preservation Trust. After years of deterioration, the Trust was formed to raise funds and to oversee the restoration efforts. It took 8 years and $8.6 million to complete in time for the building’s centennial anniversary in 2002.

This is not just a relic of the past, but a working courthouse where people are seeking justice every day.

Both AARP Indiana and the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust made friends that day and engaged older Allen County residents to make our area more friendly to people of all ages.

And the best part is that everyone agreed that we should do it again!