THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

Hower House Museum

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HISTORY

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HOUSE

Students working with artifacts around a table

EVENTS

About the Hower House Museum

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 The Hower House was completed in 1871 and was built by John Henry Hower, a leading Akron industrialist who was active in the milling, reaping, and cereal industries. Hower and his wife, Susan Youngker Hower, moved from Doylestown, Ohio, to Akron in 1865. Hower, along with Jacob Snyder, a well-known Akron architect, designed this house in the Second Empire Italianate style. This 28-room mansion is capped with a distinctive mansard roof and soaring tower. The unusual floor plan was based on the” “Akron Plan,” developed by Jacob Snyder and widely used in church constructions as part of the “Sunday School movement” across the United States between 1870 and 1917. The mansion is filled with hundreds of treasures and furnishings the Hower family collected from around the world.

Read more about our history. 

Announcements

Now Open For Holiday Tours! 

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Site Dedicated To Research About The Hower Family 

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Acting Like A Hower Unclass Spring 2023 Students
The Hower House Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Hower Family. A wonderful collaboration with Dr. Hillary Nunn from the University of Akron has allowed for students to participate in  EX[L] Center Unclasses such as "Acting Like a Hower" and "Menus and Manuscripts".  Please click the link below to access their research and blogs. Topics include Grace Hower Crawford's connection to the theater, Hower Family Recipes, and Hower Family Travel Correspondence. 
Hower House Museum Digital Collection

Location, hours and contact


Hower House and Museum 
60 Fir Street, Akron OH, 44304

Phone: 330.972.6909
Email: howerhouse@uakron.edu
Parking: Free parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the building.

Please call  or email if you would like more information.
330.972.6909 or dmm47@uakron.edu (administrative assistant)

We are Open for HOLIDAY TOURS! 

Starting Thursday November 7, 2024. 
Tours to the public will be available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00PM-3:00PM with the last tour starting at 2:00PM. And Special Holiday Sunday Hours 1:00PM - 4:00PM with the last 
tour starting at 3:00PM.
Last day of Holiday Tours is Sunday December 29, 2024.
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving!
Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Christmas! 
Hours are subject to change due to availability of volunteers. 
RSVPs are always welcome but not required for self-guided tours.
ADMISSION:

$10.00 adults, $8.00 senior citizens (65+ years), $2.00 for students (all university students: please show ID); children 12 years and under are free with a paid adult admission; 

The Hower House Museum participates in the Museums for All Program. Admission is $2 for any guest (up to 4 guests 18 and over) who present the US Gov issued electronic benefit transfer card (EBT) upon arrival.  Children will be free with a paying adult.

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The Hower House Museum is a member of  NARM , The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® Program. Admission is free for any guest who presents their current membership card with the NARM designation from a reciprocating museum. Admission fee is only waived for people listed on the membership card.    Children 12 and under will be free with a paying adult.
https://narmassociation.org/
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