The heart of downtown Akron is set for a significant new addition with the upcoming opening of the Akron History Center. Situated at 172 South Main Street, the Center is slated to welcome the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April 5, in line with Akron's Bicentennial celebrations.
Before the doors open wide to everyone, a private ceremony, by invitation only, will set the commemorative tone of the center's launch. Announcing regular hours for visitors, the center will be accessible Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. throughout April, with expanded visiting hours planned as the year progresses. It bears repeating that entry to the Center is entirely free of charge.
The creation of the Akron History Center is an initiative driven by local efforts to encapsulate the city's narratives. David Lieberth, the president of the nonprofit behind the center's exhibits, underscored the intent, saying, "The mission of the Akron History Center is to create an enduring, long-lasting, free museum-quality exhibit about Akron's history," revealed by an announcement on the City of Akron's official website. The Center aims to engage the community, offer educational opportunities for the youth, and roll out the red carpet to visitors.
A collaboration between the Akron-Summit County Public Library, the Summit County Historical Society, and the non-profit Akron History Center, Inc. has resulted in a facility sporting over 60 exhibits and more than 100 historical artifacts. Stories will unfurl across 30 video screens, immersing visitors in Akron's rich history. "The Akron Public Library, the precursor to today’s Library system, was founded just 50 years after Akron so it is fitting that the Library is involved in this tribute to the city we love and call home," expressed Pam Hickson-Stevenson, Executive Director of the Akron-Summit County Public Library, in sentiments revealed by the City of Akron.
The center's financial underpinnings include a notable $2.2 million raised to make the exhibits a reality. A generous $500,000 grant from the City of Akron jumpstarted funding, supplemented by Akron's foundations, local businesses, and individual contributors. A commendable 83 donors have their names etched in the Center's narrative. Moreover, a new cadre of benefactors, the Diamond Business Guild—comprising 27 Akron stalwarts in business for over 60 years—pooled together $700,000 for the cause.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik heralds the center as a point of pride for the city, “The City of Akron is proud to support the Akron History Center,” he shared, as the City of Akron reported. According to him, the center is not merely a marker of the city's past but a beacon for community engagement and appreciation for Akron's ongoing story. This story continues to evolve through the very act of remembrance and exhibition.
