The first fort constructed at Detroit was Fort Pontchartrain, built by the contingent led by French entrepreneur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The town fell under British control in 1760, as part of the Seven Years’ War. During the American Revolution, British leadership at Detroit determined stronger fortifications were needed. Thus, Fort Lernoult, named after Commander Richard Lernoult, was constructed on elevated land just north of the town.  

Though the American Revolution was resolved in 1783, it wasn’t until 1796 that Detroit officially came under American control, and the fort became known as Fort Detroit. Following the War of 1812, which saw Detroit captured by the British and later recovered, the fort’s name was changed to Fort Shelby, after Governor Isaac Shelby of Kentucky, who assisted in regaining Detroit.For reference, the fort’s center point was, appropriately, at the intersection of current-day Fort and Shelby streets.  After 1813, Fort Shelby slowly fell into a state of disrepair, and was given to the City of Detroit in 1826, which dismantled the fort the following year.

Fort Wayne, Detroit’s third and still-existing fort, is named after General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who led American forces to victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1796. At the closest point between the American and Canadian shores of the Detroit River, Fort Wayne was constructed through the 1840s. Though it never saw any fighting, it served as a military site through the Vietnam War.