Visit These 6 Can’t-Miss Historic Sites Near Streetsboro, Ohio!

Streetsboro, Ohio, is less than 45 minutes away from Akron and Cleveland, and the area is filled with interesting landmarks, museums, and historic buildings. You and your family can have fun while learning more about history. Here are some of the top historic sites near Streetsboro.

The James A. Garfield National Historic Site

library – James A Garfield National Historic Site by Tim Evanson Licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

The James A. Garfield National Historic Site is in Mentor, about 40 minutes away from Streetsboro. It contains Garfield’s summer home from 1876 to 1881. He was the 20th President of the United States, and in 1880, he greeted people from the front porch during his presidential campaign. The reporters who covered the event called the residence Lawnfield. After natural gas was discovered on the site, a small stone building to house the gas was added. It’s next to the carriage house and the horse barn.

You can see a restored version of Mrs. Garfield’s windmill, a 62-foot tower she had built in 1894, after her husband died. There’s also a small campaign office, a granary, and a chicken coop. Mrs. Garfield and her family also built the first presidential library in the United States on the site. You can use your smartphone to participate in an audio tour, and a variety of historic images are available online.

You can also see the Garfield Memorial Cabin nearby, a replica of the log cabin where Garfield grew up. Pets are allowed outdoors, but not inside buildings. The Garfield home is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and reservations are required.

The Ohio Singletary Museum

The Ohio Singletary Museum is inside the Singletary House, the oldest frame house in Streetsboro and the second oldest in Ohio’s Western Reserve. It was built in 1828 on the northwest corner of the public square for Colonel John Curtis Singletary, a Revolutionary War veteran whose son became the second mayor of Akron. Over the years, the building has been a tavern, a stagecoach stop, part of the Underground Railroad, the city’s first post office, and a headquarters for the township’s telephone operator.

This historic home is now in a nearby nature area. It contains a variety of artifacts, newspaper clippings, pictures, and maps. The downstairs portion is filled with period clothing, furniture, tools, and several diaries from residents. Tours are free, and donations are welcome. You can visit on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and an appointment is required.

The Portage County Museum and Historical Society

The Portage County Historical Society is in Ravenna, about 15 minutes away from Streetsboro. It contains the John Lowrie & Mary Helen Beatty Museum & Library. It was built in 1968, and the cathedral-style, stained glass window on the west end of the building is from the Portage County Courthouse in Ravenna. The Portage County Courthouse was constructed in 1882. The museum contains a statue of Lady Justice that once stood above the old Portage County Courthouse, historic office equipment from the courthouse, and many other artifacts and documents.

The clock tower from the courthouse is on the grounds, and you can see a replica of a Stone Age Native American village and a reconstruction of a hand-hewn log cabin from the 1820s with period furnishings. George Strickland built the Strickland House in 1869, and it’s available to rent. There’s also a small gift shop. You can visit on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and on Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. This place is closed on the first Saturday of every month.

The Kelso House Museum 

The Kelso House Museum is in Brimfield, about 20 minutes away from Streetsboro, and the Brimfield Historical Society runs it. The museum contains an 1833 Greek Revival-style stage coach stop and tavern with a restored ballroom. It also has:

• A New England style barn built in 1845.
• An 1879 granary, a post-Civil War corn crib.
• A three-bay outhouse used at the Brimfield town hall.
• The entrance arch from the 1921 Brimfield School.
• An 1880 Victorian-style home.
• An herb garden.
• The 1871 bell that was used in the town hall until 1951.

Tours are available on Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

The Kent State University Museum 

The Kent State University Museum is in Kent, about 10 minutes away from Streetsboro. It has many collections of historic dress, textiles, fashion, and decorative arts, and you can find works by many of the world’s greatest artists and designers.

You can see exhibits about the history and art of Black hair styles, a collection of historic handbags from the area, and a timeline of past fashions. Past exhibit topics include the history of quilts in Ohio, jewelry design, tapestries, and more. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 

The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum is in Canton, about 45 minutes away from Streetsboro. It honors William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. The McKinley National Memorial is in the same city, and the President is buried there. You can see a variety of records and artifacts related to McKinley’s life. There’s also an exhibit about what the region was like in prehistoric times, when dinosaurs roamed.

You can also learn more about the history of Stark County. This place has a replica of a 1950s kitchen, a Civil War overcoat, dresses from the 1890s and the 1930s, an old-fashioned high wheeler bike, and more. At a replica of a street in a historic town, you can explore the shops and a replica of downtown Canton’s old train station. The museum and the Ramsayer Research Library are open from Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the gift shop is open on the same days from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

These are some of the best historic sites in the area. Did we miss any of your favorite sites? Contact us and let us know about where you like to visit most.