Trails bring Akron’s history alive for families
This year’s Akron History
Trails project includes a full-color booklet detailing
historic locations in Akron.
Photo courtesy of city of Akron
By Stephanie Kist
AKRON — Families can explore the varied history of Akron — from the Portage Path Indian Trail to the city’s industrial presence to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous — through the city’s second History Trails project.
“In 2006 we discovered tremendous interest among families exploring our local history,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic. “This year we wanted to broaden the scope of their exploration by allowing families to visit many of the sites where Akron’s legacy was formed.”
This year, History Trails features a free 36-page color booklet portraying many of Akron’s historic assets.
The booklet also includes a 16-stamp
passport that can be stamped at each historic site,
but it focuses more on the history “trails”
that will allow families to learn Akron
history.
Trails feature:
• historic monuments and
markers in Downtown Akron;
• the Ohio & Erie Canal
Towpath and Cuyahoga Valley;
• Portage Path;
• a “founders”
trail of Akron’s earliest frontier sites;
• industrial trails emphasizing
the city’s role in ceramics, farm machinery and
rubber;
• African-American history;
• sites important to the
founding of Alcoholics Anonymous;
• historic homes, including
Perkins Mansion, the Hower
House and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens; and
• a trail of sites relevant
to the Great Depression.
Last year’s history project
focused on the 75th anniversary of several Depression-era
buildings downtown. An important part of the project
was the “Akron History Passport,” which
encouraged visitors to get their passports “stamped”
at 22 separate history locations.
More than 100 individuals completed
all 22 stops and won prizes for their achievement.
Headquarters for History Trails
is the Akron History Exhibit at Lock 3 Park downtown.
The exhibit and the publication
are part of the outreach efforts of the Summit County
Historical Society, with underwriting provided by the
city of Akron.
Inspiration for the History Trails
project came from Akron Deputy Mayor for Administration
Dave Lieberth, according to a city press release.
“So many of our historic
monuments and markers have
been placed by people who worked to protect our
legacy over the decades, but the
sites remain unknown to the majority of those who live
and work in Akron,” Lieberth said. “We wanted
to call attention to each of our war memorials, and
the markers to those who created the Akron of today.”
The 36-page booklet with passport
is available from the following organizations:
• Akron A.A. Archives;
• American Toy Marble Museum;
• Akron Fire Department;
• Akron Police Department;
• Akron Municipal Building;
• Akron-Summit County
Main Branch Library;
• Cascade Locks Park Association;
• Cuyahoga Valley National
Park;
• Downtown Akron Partnership;
• Dr. Shirla R. McClain
Gallery of Akron’s Black History
• FirstMerit Corp.;
• Hower House;
• Lock 3 Park;
• Metro Regional Transit
Authority;
• Metro Parks, Serving Summit
County;
• Ohio & Erie Canalway
Coalition;
• Stan Hywet Hall &
Gardens;
• Summit County Historical
Society; and • The
University of Akron’s Archival Services.
Residents are encouraged to call
ahead and check on the availability of the booklet.
For more information, visit www.ci.akron.oh.us/AkronHis
toryTrails/index.htm.
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