Johnny Appleseed Park
Encyclopedia
Johnny Appleseed Park, including what was formerly known as Archer Park, is a public park
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
. It is named after the popular-culture nickname of John Chapman, better known as "Johnny Appleseed
," a famous American
pioneer, who was buried on the site. Chapman's gravesite is accessible to public view through steel gates. The weathered tombstone says, "Johnny Appleseed He lived for others. 1774-1845." It also has a carved apple in bas relief.
The land of the park was donated to Allen County, Indiana
by William T. McKay to serve as a memorial park for the community. It became part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department as the city grew and annexed the land. Johnny Appleseed Park serves as the home for Fort Wayne's annual Johnny Appleseed Festival
.
The current park, as of 2008, includes a large campground nestled in rolling meadows and woods along the St. Joseph River
, Vietnam War Memorial, and at the extreme northwest corner of the park, includes the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center
.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. It is named after the popular-culture nickname of John Chapman, better known as "Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
," a famous American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pioneer, who was buried on the site. Chapman's gravesite is accessible to public view through steel gates. The weathered tombstone says, "Johnny Appleseed He lived for others. 1774-1845." It also has a carved apple in bas relief.
The land of the park was donated to Allen County, Indiana
Allen County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 331,849 people, 128,745 households, and 86,259 families residing in the county. The population density was 505 people per square mile . There were 138,905 housing units at an average density of 211 per square mile...
by William T. McKay to serve as a memorial park for the community. It became part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department as the city grew and annexed the land. Johnny Appleseed Park serves as the home for Fort Wayne's annual Johnny Appleseed Festival
Johnny Appleseed Festival
The Johnny Appleseed Festival is a name given to any number of festivals held in the United States in honor of John Chapman usually in September or October....
.
The current park, as of 2008, includes a large campground nestled in rolling meadows and woods along the St. Joseph River
St. Joseph River (Maumee River)
The St. Joseph River is an tributary of the Maumee River in northwestern Ohio, and northeastern Indiana in the United States, with headwater tributaries rising in southern Michigan. It drains a primarily rural farming region in the watershed of Lake Erie. It shares its name with the St...
, Vietnam War Memorial, and at the extreme northwest corner of the park, includes the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...
.