The Akron History Center shows the extensive past of the city

A Devo suit is included in the exhibition in which the Akron music history in the Akron History Center is highlighted. Photos: Eric Poston

Downtown Akron -From rubber to music to the SOAP -BOX -Derby -Akron story is exhibited in the recently opened Akron History Center.
The center is located in the building D in the Bowery District, 172 S. Main St., near the intersection of the streets of South Main and Bowery and consists of three floors with a total of around 3,000 square foot with 62 exhibits, more than 100 artifacts and 34 flat screen monitors.
Caitlyn Conley, a local history and museum specialist from the public library of Akron-Summit County, said that many of the objects on display came from the Summit County Historical Society with others from the collections of lighter than the Air Society, the archives of the University of Akron and the Special Collection Division of the Akron-Summit department Public library.
The lower level tells the story of Akron's foundation, which took place on December 6, 1825 by Gen. Simon Perkins and Paul Williams. The Perkins family shows an exhibition and shows its measurement compass and flintlock pistols. The level also shows the topography of Akron, the Ohio & Erie Canal, John Brown, Sojourner Truth and the civil war.
Conley said a display also tells the story of two acrons – North Akron and South Akron – and the reason why so many streets are on a tendency.
The middle level of the museum, known as “Boomtown”, offers a large picture of the BF Goodrich complex on the ground in 1950. Conley said the work was the largest in the world and stretched several city blocks. Other exhibits at this level are: lighter than air, rubber room, acron -original and immigration trends. According to Conley, Akron is known for many other products as rubber, and muesli, farm machines, sewage pipes and Dum-Dum-Sucker. The middle level also offers thirst after Sobriety exponat with alcoholics anonymous co-founder of Dr. Bob Smith's office door from the second national building and shows the establishment of alcoholics Anonymous in Akron in 1935.
The main street (top floor) still shows the original Terrazzo floor of the first tenant of the building, the Imperial Grocery, 1909. The Akron Innovations Display is also located at this level with the history of Gojo. In addition, there is an interactive exhibition by Goodyear, in which visitors can choose from several variables and drive virtually by car.
The three levels are the 20 steps into social justice, which focus on questions of the breed, the rights of women, the justice of the sexes and the abolition of slavery.
The Akron historian David Liebert said that the Akron History Center was a realization of a plan that was first developed in 1983.
“We have worked hard in the past four years to collect the 2 million US dollars that are required for the design, manufacture and installation of the exhibits,” said Lieberth. “So it is immensely satisfying – not only to see it openly – but also to see how the groups of visitors and families are inspired by work that we have done.”
He added that he had worked on this plan since he left his position as deputy mayor for the city of Akron in 2013.
“I knew that the only way to ever become a reality was to bind it to the two hundred -year -old judicial tie,” said Liebert. “Since we were planning the priority of the planning process and the plans for a new published history of Akron, which will be released in June with the planning of the 200th anniversary in 2020. Jenthunder-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mitte-Mittel-Ace-Ace. Programs for the coming years.
Conley said the center has received many positive feedback on the quality and depth of the exhibits since the public on April 5. Over time, she said that some of the exhibits are changed to other objects. She added that Akron Public Schools developed a curriculum from Akron History and the hope of putting the students at the center.
“We would love to come in and use what we have here to complement this curriculum,” said Conley.
The Akron History Center is open for self -guided tours from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to Conley, the center is looking for additional volunteers and those interested can register under Akronhistorycenter.org.

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