Kekionga

Kekionga was a significant Miami village located on the Maumee River in present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana. It served as a central hub for the Miami people for centuries, strategically positioned at the convergence of important waterways and portages that facilitated trade and travel between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley. Its name, believed to mean "place of the great turtle," reflected its deep cultural importance.

By the late 18th century, Kekionga became a crucial focal point in the territorial disputes between the United States and various Native American tribes, particularly after the American Revolutionary War. The village was a base for Native American resistance to American expansion. In 1790, an expedition led by General Josiah Harmar attempted to destroy Kekionga, but the American forces were repelled. This event led to further conflict.

Following the decisive defeat of a larger American army under General Arthur St. Clair at the Battle of the Wabash in 1791, the United States resolved to establish a permanent military presence in the region. In 1794, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne led his army to the site of Kekionga and constructed Fort Wayne. The establishment of this fort marked the end of Kekionga's prominence as an independent Native American center and the beginning of permanent American settlement in the area, fundamentally altering the historical trajectory of the region.