Our historic park continues to grow with the addition of historic buildings and canal structures.

Nuck Log House
In 1843, Joseph and Margaret Nuck left their home in Elmstein in the German province of Bavaria for a new life in America. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traveled up the Erie Canal to Buffalo, crossed Lake Erie on a steamer, then traveled down the Wabash and Erie Canal to Huntington, Indiana. During their early years here, Joseph and his son, Matthias, worked for Chief Lafontaine, clearing the Chief's land for 25¢ a day. In 1847, the Nucks purchased land about two miles north of the Forks and built this house. As they prospered, they put siding on their log house to make it look more like a "real" house, and added rooms. The house, with the additions removed, was brought to the Forks in 1981. It has been furnished as a pioneer house of the mid-1800s.

School House
A pioneer-era schoolhouse has been reconstructed using squared logs taken from a Huntington County house which was originally built about 1870. It has been furnished as a schoolhouse from the 1880s. Periodically staffed by volunteers, lessons are taught in the same way they would have been taught on the frontier a hundred years ago. Children find the Pioneer Schoolhouse a fascinating place to visit.

Chief's House
In about 1834, Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville (whose Miami name, Peshewa meant "the wildcat") ordered construction of a council house at the Forks of the Wabash. This council house was built in preparation for the treaty negotiations which were held at the Forks in that year. According to several historical sources, this council house survives as "the Chief's House" at Historic Forks of the Wabash.

In addition to using this house during treaty negotiations, Richardville would also have used it during Miami Council meetings, which took place at the Forks after 1831, and on his frequent travels among the settlements of his people. (Richardville's principal residence was in Fort Wayne, on the St. Mary's River).

Richardville was succeeded as Civil Chief by his son-in-law, Francis Lafontaine, also known by his Miami name Topeah ("frost on the bushes"). Credible historical sources indicate that it was actually Lafontaine who constructed, in the early 1840s, the building we know as "the Chief's House." Lafontaine used this building as his main residence.

In the 1970s, an architectural analysis indicated that "the Chief's House" had been constructed in two separate phases at two separate times. Is the northern wing of "the Chief's House" the remnant of Richardville's council house? Did Lafontaine add the southern "ell" during the 1840s? Sometimes history answers our question with more questions.

What is known is that "the Chief's House" is the jewel in the crown of Historic Forks of the Wabash. It was the primary residence of Chief Francis Lafontaine and his family, and it exists today because of the devotion, care and efforts of a devoted group of concerned individuals.

The house has been restored to its appearance in 1846, the last year that Chief Lafontaine lived in the house.

Come and visit "the Chief's House" at Historic Forks of the Wabash. Come and join us as we continue to learn about this unique and priceless place.