NORTH CANTON, OH - Walsh University’s Hoover Historical Center invites the community to enjoy a summer filled with engaging, family-friendly events that celebrate local history and culture!
It all begins on Wednesday, July 15th and Friday July 31st at 10 a.m. with Tales in Thyme, a delightful storytelling experience for young children held in the museum’s gardens. This free event offers families an opportunity to enjoy stories in a charming outdoor setting.
The Sixth Annual Hoover Park Festival will take place on Sunday, August 2 from 1-5 pm at 1875 E. Maple St., North Canton. This highly anticipated event celebrates all things Hoover history and community heritage. Highlights include a special viewing of the America 250 Stark County Historical “Pastport” episode on the Hoover Historical Center! Guests can also enjoy tours of the Hoover Historical Center with a scavenger hunt for a prize and an opportunity for guests to pick up a Stark County Local History “Pastport.” Additional activities include garden tours, a “vintage” baseball game, food trucks, train rides, history presentations, a Canton Concert Band performance, storytelling by North Canton Public Library, interactive popups from local historical organizations, and so much more!
The festival reflects on the significant impact The Hoover Company has made in history. 176 years ago, the Hoover family purchased the historic 82-acre property at the corner of Market Avenue and Maple Street in 1850. That land would go on to play a pivotal role in the development of North Canton, serving as a family retreat, then later as the site of The Hoover Company’s International Sales Conventions during the 1920s, and now as an event venue and home to the Hoover Historical Center, a museum which educates thousands of visitors each year.
Founded in 1870, The Hoover Company evolved from a regional leather goods business into a global leader in floor care after revolutionizing the industry with the introduction of the first portable electric vacuum in 1908. The company remained headquartered in North Canton for more than 100 years, employing generations of Stark County families. Today, the Hoover Historical Center preserves that legacy as a public museum and a living classroom for Walsh University’s Museum Studies program.
The Hoover Park Festival continues to grow each year, bringing together families, alumni, and neighbors to celebrate a rich tradition of innovation, community pride, and local history.
Both events are free and open to the public! We hope to see you there! The Hoover Historical Center also offers free, guided tours to the public on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons from March through October. Tours begin on the hour at noon, 1, 2, and 3pm. www.walsh.edu/hhc
