Johnny Appleseed Park

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.^[2][3]

Johnny Appleseed Park
Location	Indiana 930, 1500 Harry Baals Drive Fort Wayne, Indiana
Area	31.0 acres (12.5 ha)
Created	1973 (acquired)
Operated by	Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Status	Open all year
Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	Swanson Blvd. at Parnell Ave. along Old Feeder Canal, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Coordinates	41°6′42.5″N 85°07′23.39″W
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1845 (1845)
NRHP reference No.	73000028[1]
Added to NRHP	January 17, 1973

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.^[1]

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,^[4] Vietnam War Memorial, and at the extreme northwest corner of the park, includes the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center.

See also

• List of parks in Fort Wayne, Indiana

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Around Fort Wayne - Johnny Appleseed Park Archived 2008-06-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
3. "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved July 1, 2015. Note: This includes John L. Blocher (May 1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Johnny Appleseed Park" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2015. and Accompanying photographs
4. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation - Johnny Appleseed Park Campground Archived 2008-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2008-05-01.

External links

• Media related to Johnny Appleseed Park at Wikimedia Commons
• Johnny Appleseed Campground
• Johnny Appleseed Festival web site