Our Visit to Akron, OH

Ohio

June 2025

A Visit to Akron's Ohio and Erie Canal Locks

We drove downtown to see Locks 3 and 4 of the Ohio and Erie Canal, a vital waterway that connected Lake Erie in Cleveland to the Ohio River in Portsmouth. The canal brought prosperity to the area and many towns, and Akron’s Locks 3 and 4 (of the 28) were an essential part of it. Akron’s locks raised and lowered boats to navigate the elevation differences, and they were central to Akron’s booming industry and growth.

The area around Lock 3 was once an industrial site that included a lumberyard and The American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company, which mass-produced clay marbles. After the factory burned down in 1904, the site became a parking lot for a department store until it was turned into the beautiful park we visited.

At downtown’s Lock 4, we saw the canal’s water flowing over a small waterfall. This part of town is wonderfully restored with historic brick buildings and beautiful murals where people enjoy themselves sitting in the sun near the water. It was lovely to see how these landmark locks, once the engine of the town’s prosperity, have been so beautifully preserved, becoming a fundamental part of Akron’s identity today.

A Glimpse into Akron's Gilded Age, The Hower House

Our visit to Akron included a quick stop at the Hower House, an elegant Victorian mansion built in 1871. Today, the house is a museum on The University of Akron’s campus.

This Hower House was the home of industrialist John Henry Hower’s family, the “Father of Akron Industry”. He was essential to Akron’s industrial growth, being involved in the milling, reaping, and cereal industries. The milling stone in the yard is a reminder of that time.