The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, served as Johnny Appleseed's final home. In his honor, the local minor-league baseball team adopted the name "Tincaps." This refers to the lore that Johnny wore a pot as a hat. The mascot for the Tincaps is aptly named Johnny.
Each year, Fort Wayne also holds a Johnny Appleseed Festival. According to the official website of the festival, the purpose is to celebrate "the life and times of Johnny Appleseed." The event spans a weekend in September, and is filled with food, games and even a designated Johnny Appleseed impersonator.
The annual Johnny Appleseed Festival in the historic city of Lisbon, Ohio, not only celebrates the legend of Johnny Appleseed, but apples in general. This fall festival, which originated in 1968, is an all-weekend event. Each year, the festival features games, live music, movie screenings, pageants and a parade. Festival attendees can sample a wide variety of apple dishes, including apple fritters, apple butter, apple pie and apple ice cream. As a keepsake, the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce sells a commemorative plate each year.
Located inside the historic Bailey Hall of Urbana University, the Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum exists to honor his history and to promote the mission of Johnny Appleseed. The museum houses a large collection of documents and memorabilia, all pertaining to the acclaimed missionary. Items on display include historical newspaper reports pertaining to Appleseed and actual bark from trees he planted. Planted in the courtyard of the museum is a tree grown from the seedling of an actual Johnny Appleseed original.
Although his official title is the "Early Settler," the character depicted on printed materials for Lakewood Public Schools was inspired by Johnny Appleseed. This character does not only appear in logos in Lakewood, but a terra-cotta statue of Johnny Appleseed graces the Civic Auditorium at Lakewood High School. When sculptor Victor Schreckengost designed the statue in the 1950s, the school board believed Appleseed to be too eccentric to honor. Over time, the "Early Settler" has transformed into a monument for both Appleseed and celebrated Lakewood resident Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland.
