Local Attractions
Kent State University Museum
Opened to the public in October 1985, the Kent State University Museum was founded with an initial contribution from New York dress manufacturers Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers. Their gift included 4,000 costumes and accessories, nearly 1,000 pieces of decorative art and a 5,000-volume reference library. In the 1960s, Shannon Rodgers began collecting what is now considered one of the finest period costume collections in the United States, today totaling more than 40,000 pieces. The Tarter/Miller collection of some 10,000 pieces of glass formed the second major gift to the Museum. Together with the other decorative arts collected by Rodgers and Silverman, the Museum holds one of the most comprehensive teaching collections of fashionable design from the 18th century to the present.
General admission is $5, senior citizens are $4, and children (7-18) are $3. Admission is free for children younger than 7, anyone with a current KSU ID and to all on Sundays.
The hours are: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4:45 pm, Thursdays from 10 am to 8:45 pm, and Sundays from noon to 4:45 pm. The Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. For additional information visit website.
Rockwell Hall, Corner of East Main and Lincoln, Kent
330.672.3450
Kent Historical Society
In 1971, a group of civic-minded individuals, concerned about preserving the rich historical heritage of Kent incorporated as the Kent Historical Society. The young society would soon face its first major crisis: the threat of destruction to the landmark 1875 Kent Railway Station. In 1975, the society bought the station and began a renovation of the building which cost over a half a million dollars. The second floor of the station served as the Society's offices and museum. In addition to its strong tradition of displaying artifacts in the Rowe Museum, the Society maintains the Kent Historical Resource Center for those researching local and family history.
…the (Kent) Clapp-Woodward house
237 East Main Street.
Admission is FREE. Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM
330.678.2712
For additional information visit website.
Towner’s Woods
Towner's Woods is a naturally diverse 175 acre park in Franklin Township and has been enjoyed as a county park for over three decades. The park was purchased by Portage County from the Towner and Bringham families in 1973. CETA crews developed the land into our first county park in the late 1970's utilizing recycled railroad materials in the structures. Once the site of sand and gravel extraction and dairy pastures, the Portage County Park District now manages the park, balancing conservation with recreation. Towner's Woods is a great place to relax and have fun. The extensive trail system is great for hiking and nature observation. In addition, the park is the site of a 2000 year-old Hopewell Indian mound that overlooks Lake Pippen.
Reserveable picnic pavilions and a gazebo are available for special events. For additional information visit Portage Park District’s website.
Directions:
2296 Ravenna Rd. Franklin Township.
From SR 43, turn east onto Ravenna
Rd., go 2 miles to the park entrance.
Portage County Historical Society
Formed in April, 1951, as a non-profit educational society whose objective is "to collect, preserve and display items of historical value" relating to Portage County; to collect historical material of all kinds; and to "promote and disseminate historical information." One of the society's goals is to encourage interest in the history of Portage County. This is achieved by the many activities of the society which includes tours of the museums and grounds for school groups and the public, a free lecture series, displays of historic items, a research library, numerous publications, speakers, and various preservation activities. For additional information visit website.
6549 North Chestnut Street, Ravenna
330.296.3523
Kent Stage
Constructed as the Flannigan and Steele Theater in 1927, the Kent Stage is the only remaining downtown theater of its kind in Portage County. The building opened as a movie theater and has entertained audiences in Kent for 82 years. The Western Reserve Folk Arts Association opened up the Kent Stage in 2002 continuing a tradition of providing quality entertainment in Downtown Kent. The Kent Stage has seen performances by Ani DiFranco, Stephen Stills, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Bo Diddley, Melanie, Janis Ian, Loudon Wainwright III, Livingston Taylor, Nickel Creek, John Gorka, David Wilcox, Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Pete Best, Leon Redbone, Vassar Clements, John Cowan, Little Feat, The Kingston Trio, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Riders In The Sky, John McCutcheon, India Aire, Karla Bonoff, Sam Bush, Jonathan Edwards, Jay Unger and Molly Mason, Robin and Linda Williams, the Children's Musical Theater of Kent, and has hosted the Kent Blues Festival, Up From The River Music Festival as well as the Kent State Folk Festival since 2002. For additional information visit website.
175 East Main Street, Kent
330.677.5005
