The historical thread that stitches the District together is the vaudeville era. Since the early 1900s, the community has flocked to the District to enjoy the performing arts. The magic of attending a live show gives meaning to life and adds richness to citizen's daily lives. The world literally comes to your front door and invites you into a new experience. The appeal of experiencing a live performance has only grown with every decade. The vaudeville movement resulted in the development of Eagles Theatre in 1906 in downtown Wabash, as well as two other theaters. Chicago’s Miss Bertha Gallant was the first act in the new theatre. While vaudeville is no longer the country’s premier form of entertainment, Wabash stills nods to this era with performers that travel on a circuit much like original vaudeville performers.

The collection of artists referred to as “Touring Artists” is inspired by the vaudeville roots. The District is home to many venues and is continually hosting artists from across the nation. The largest groups visit the Ford Theater stage at the Honeywell Center. At any given time, the District could be hosting a week-run technical rehearsal for a massive Broadway cast or the ensemble from the Moscow Ballet. There is a constant buzz of artists arriving by tour bus and leaving their marks on the District. Other venues host intimate events, such as watercolor workshops with regional artists and book signings with national authors. Regardless of the type of artistry, the District is influenced by Touring Artists and their presence in the community