Akron, OH Attractions

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron is a truly magnificent place to visit. Stan Hywet is not actually a person but Old English for "stone quarry". FA Seiberling, the founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, built the home and surrounding gardens. Today visitors can tour the home, gardens, conservatory, and gate lodge. A gift shop and café is on site for those who work up an appetite or want to take home a piece of their special visit.

For years the Akron Art Museum has been located in a late 19th century Renaissance-revival structure. However, in 2000 an international competition was established in an effort to find a design for a new facility. The competition was won by architect Coop Himmelb and eventually a grand opening date for the new Akron Art Museum was set for July, 2007.

The Akron Police Department Museum is an interesting place for anyone interested in policing. The museum focuses on the history of policing in the Akron area and maintains a varied collection. Some of the items on display include confiscated items such as weapons, old photographs, news clippings on local police stories, badges, books, and other police equipment.

The Akron Zoo is home to more than 700 animals. The zoo maintains both domestic and exotic animals and is part of a breeding programs to save endangered species.

The zoo began in the 1950s as a children's zoo with farm animals and has been ever expanding to become the institution it is today. One of the most recent additions to the Akron Zoo is the Legends of the Wild, which is the largest expansion the zoo has ever seen and now home to 380 animals. Also new is Komodo Kingdom, home to endangered species.

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The Goodyear World of Rubber is located at the headquarters of the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron. Inside visitors will find a multitude of displays all related to the history and evolution of rubber. Of particular note are the displays on the Interstate Trucking Industry and one related to a rubber tree forest.

The Hower House in Akron was built in 1871 by John Henry Hower. It is an elegant Second Empire Italianate style three story mansion with 28 rooms, including the top floor, which is a ballroom. The home still contains some of the Hower family furnishings and heirlooms. The property was donated to the University of Akron and is maintained by the university, the Friends of Hower House, and the Hower House Victorians through the help of private donations.

Hower House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Those who have a creative streak will want to be sure to visit the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron. Here visitors will find a plethora of fascinating information on some of the 200 inventers and inventions that have changed the way we live. The National Inventors Hall of Fame has many galleries all containing interesting exhibits and interactive displays.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Corridor was once a key commercial inland waterway linking the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Now it is a great spot for a bit of light recreation. This area spans from New Philadelphia to Cleveland and is a popular place for the 5 million surrounding residents to play. Activities available include canoeing, boating, bird watching, bicycling and fishing.

The Perkins Mansion located in Akron is a spectacular old home. It was the home of Colonel Simon Perkins, the grandson of Akron's founder. The mansion is set on beautiful grounds and is fronted by four large white columns in the Greek revival style. Built in 1837, the now restored home features displays on the abolitionist John Brown.

Quaker Square located in Akron is truly one of the United States' most unusual urban renewal projects. Located on the square is the former Quaker Oats manufacturing facility whose 36 silos were turned into a luxury hotel featuring 190 rooms. Nearby is the newly built Quaker Square Retail Complex that features shops, offices, and restaurants.