The lower level of the Center at Lock 4 highlights the city’s topography, the Ohio & Erie Canal, and Akron’s founding on December 6, 1825, by General Simon Perkins and Paul Williams. An exhibit on the Perkins family includes the General’s surveying compass and his flintlock pistols, displayed for the first time in 50 years. Stories of two national figures whose lives were forever intertwined with Akron in the movement to abolish slavery are told here – John Brown and Sojourner Truth. Akron’s role in the American Civil War is illustrated through artifacts from the collection of the Summit County Historical Society.
The middle level of the Center, Boomtown, showcases Akron’s prowess in innovation in clay products, cereal, farm machinery, rubber and polymer products, aviation, lighter-than-air, publishing, fishing tackle, children’s books , metalworking, and health care. Akron’s Thirst for Sobriety explains the importance of alcohol in local history and underscores the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron in 1935. A touchstone is the office door that belonged to AA co-founder Dr. Bob Smith.
Akron’s embrace of Lighter Than Air in the 1930’s includes exhibits on the Gugenheim Airship Institute, and the development of airships USS Akron and Macon. Artifacts from the collection of the Lighter Than Air Society of Akron have been loaned to the Center for display, including girders made for the USS Akron.
Did You Know?
The Akron History Center features more than 60 exhibits displaying more than 100 historic artifacts with stories told on more than 30 video screens.
The Rubber Room captures the Art Deco design of the lounge at the old Portage Hotel The exhibit includes tires of the past and rubber products made in Akron. The founding of the United Rubber Workers Union is featured, and video screens tell the immigration stories of people who came to Akron.
On the Main Street level, Goodyear hosts an interactive exhibit that spotlights Akron’s historic role as a center for race tire production, including an interactive game that allows visitors to experience the challenge of designing racing tires.
Rhythms of the Rubber City displays the collection of music artifacts donated by the Akron Sound Museum to the library, which document the city’s role in the Industrial Rock era of the 1980’s. Earthquaker Devices provides an interactive video screen that allows visitors to experiment with guitar effects created for musicians by this Akron company.
Akron Innovations includes the history of GOJO, starting with the first hand-tooled dispenser by founder Jerry Lippman. A 2025 electronic Purell dispenser is an icon of the hand sanitizer that is applied one billion times a day around the world.
Akron in Aviation and Space includes the uniform patch from astronaut Judith Resnik from her successful flight aboard the maiden voyage of Space Shuttle Discovery. Resnik, an engineer, was among the first group of NASA astronauts to include women. “Akron in Aviation” and “Akron in Space,” are video presentations that include the devastating story of Judy Resnik’s last mission.
Akronites Who Impacted America is a wall of eight flat screens that reveal the stories of 64 individuals who were born, educated, or nourished in Akron and achieved national recognition for their accomplishments.
20 Steps to Social Justice memorialize the city’s 200-year journey leaning-in to racial and gender equity, women’s rights, the abolition of slavery, the development of public education, the establishment of organized labor, and the rights of the disabled and victims of crime.