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2008 to 2022
Course: For fourteen years Fort Wayne held a branch of the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums, David and Marsha Karpeles's free museum of original documents. It opened in late 2008 in Piqua Hall, the domed 1917 First Church of God at 3039 Piqua Avenue, where rotating exhibits of historical maps shared the building with documents that included an original draft of the Bill of Rights, a 1503 copy of the Magna Carta, and a Thanksgiving proclamation signed by George Washington. On 1 May 2013 a second hall opened: Fairfield Hall, at 2410 Fairfield Avenue, the grand 1927 First Church of Christ, Scientist building, housing rotating historical documents, ship models, and stone hieroglyphic inscriptions. Admission was free, and the museum ran an outreach program of mini-museum displays maintained in local schools. David Karpeles died on 19 January 2022; both Fort Wayne halls closed, the buildings were offered for sale, and the Fort Wayne years ended. In February 2026 the family announced the whole collection would be consolidated at St. Augustine, Florida, and the remaining museum buildings sold.
Sources:
- ACGSI, K Named Places — Piqua Hall opened late 2008 in the former First Church of God at 3039 Piqua Avenue; Fairfield Hall opened 1 May 2013 at 2410 Fairfield Avenue; the Bill of Rights draft, Magna Carta copy, and Washington proclamation; the 2022 report that both Fort Wayne locations had closed and were for sale.
- Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums (Wikipedia) — the two Fort Wayne buildings and their contents; David Karpeles's death on 19 January 2022; the February 2026 consolidation announcement.
- Kevin Leininger, The News-Sentinel, 12 April 2013 — the move to the Fairfield Avenue church planned for May 2013.