Local museums detail much of that history.
The Fort St. Joseph Museum is located in the carriage house of the Chapin Mansion near downtown Niles. Its purpose is to collect, preserve and exhibit the history and culture of Niles and its residents Among its treasures are many items from the site of old Fort St. Joseph. However, the museum also showcases other artifacts from the English, French and Indian periods, including extremely rare pictographs by Chief Sitting Bull, the nation's most famous Indian leader. Although he never lived in Niles, his invluence echoed throughout many Indian nations and the pictographs reflect this. While the carriage house holds the museum, the mansion has been Niles' City Hall since 1939.