Walsh University invites the community to celebrate the opening of the 2026 tour season at the Hoover Historical Center, beginning Thursday, March 5, as the museum also joins a countywide America 250 initiative that brings local history to life through a new interactive experience.
Operated by Walsh University, the Hoover Historical Center opens for free, guided tours March through October on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Located on the historic Hoover farm in North Canton, the museum preserves and shares the story of local innovation that transformed households around the world.
This year, the Hoover Historical Center is participating in the “Stark County Historical Pastport,” an America 250 project led by the Stark County Local History Group in collaboration with historical organizations throughout the county. The initiative connects residents and visitors to Stark County landmarks through a documentary style social media campaign hosted by filmmaker and history enthusiast Brittany Dobish. Participants can follow along with their own Pastport and receive a stamp at each location or historical society event they attend. Those who collect at least 10 stamps through 2026 will receive an official Stark County Historical Pastport hat when they drop off their completed booklet at Visit Canton beginning March 25, 2026.
The Stark County Historical Pastport is made possible by The Hoover Foundation, with additional support from Visit Canton, ArtsinStark, and America 250-Ohio.
The Pastport premiere event will take place Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way East in Massillon. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the program running from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The evening will feature a Stark County history panel, information about participating historical societies, a sneak peek at the upcoming documentary series, and keynote speaker Dr. Thomas Sosnowski. Admission is free, and attendees will have the opportunity to receive their first Pastport stamp.
Megan Pellegrino, Director of Museum Studies and Director of the Hoover Historical Center at Walsh University, will serve as a member of the history panel during the kickoff event, representing the University and highlighting the Hoover legacy as part of Stark County’s broader story of innovation and industry.
The Hoover Historical Center is also now featured on the Ohio Innovation Trail, a statewide showcase celebrating Ohio’s creativity and invention as part of the America 250 commemoration. Highlighting more than 80 destinations, the trail explores Ohio’s impact on industries ranging from sports to household technology, including the modern vacuum cleaner invented in North Canton. The museum tells the story of James Murray Spangler’s first electric suction sweeper and The Hoover Company’s vision, preserving a local innovation that changed homes worldwide. The museum welcomed 3,000 visitors last year from 21 states and three countries.
In addition to its regular tour season, the Hoover Historical Center will host several special events in 2026. The Hoover Park Festival will take place on Sunday, August 2, from 1 to 5 p.m., and will feature the full Pastport documentary episode highlighting the Hoover Historical Center. Christmas on Hoover Farm will be held Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information about tours, events, or the Stark County Historical Pastport, contact the Hoover Historical Center at Walsh University.
