The Red Carnation - William McKinley Memorial and Museum

Written: Danielle and Andrew Livelsberger

Photography:  Andrew Livelsberger

McKinley Memorial

Background:
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States from March 4, 1897 until September 1901 when he was assassinated.  He kept America on the gold standard and fought to protect american industrial interests.  He successfully lead America to victory in the Spanish-American War.

His memorial and the adjacent museum outline his contribution to the American nation.

Impression:June  6, 1905 saw construction begin on the McKinley Memorial site.  It would be completed September 1907.  Detailed information about the timeline of the memorial can be found at the McKinley Museum website.

It is a wonderful site to see in person.  The 100+ steps to the top are easily navigated with plateaus to rest if need be and an elevator and ADA accessibility are provided.  There were many people there enjoying the park and using the steps to exercise.

Inside the memorial are laid to rest President McKinley and First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley and family.

The McKinley Museum just off to the side of the memorial is a great place for family to go and learn about Stark county history, science, and McKinley's legacy.

Discovery World area shows nature, past and present including a machine that generates tornadoes and other fascinating scientific phenomenon like phosphorescent paint that keeps your shadow on the wall even after you leave the area!

Create a tornado exhibit in Discovery World

Robotic Dinosaurs in Discovery World

The Street of Shops is a look into the past, when we still relied on blacksmiths and general stores.  The area has multiple levels to explore.

The McKinley gallery showcases items from the McKinley campaign and White House with an animatronic William and Ida McKinley explaining different points in his presidency.

Downtown Canton On A Lazy Saturday

Written: Andrew Livelsberger

Photography:  Andrew Livelsberger

Background:
We visit downtown Canton on a Saturday afternoon to see all the sites of this northeastern Ohio city.  We took a road trip to see the McKinley Museum and Memorial and decided to branch out a bit and explore the downtown area as well.

Impression:
Not knowing a lot about the downtown area, we did some exploring on our first night there.  There are lots of beautiful churches, the art district has some great sites to see.  The Palace Theatre is a good stop as is the interesting architecture of the Stark County Courthouse.

Downtown looks to be a city on transition.  There are abandoned store fronts and buildings intermixed with active businesses, which leads me to believe that the city might be actively working to rebuild.

Please take note:  According to the locals, Stark County claims to have a funding issue when it comes to road repair.  I'm not sure what the case is, but I have to say that once we got off interstates 71 and 77 in Stark County, the potholes are like running into a minefield!  I've lost 2 tires and possibly 2 rims during our trip.  If you visit anywhere in Stark County, please be cautious and don't take your eyes off the road for a second.

Lets take a look:

St. Peter's Church
726 Cleveland Avenue NW
Canton, Ohio 44702

Located directly behind the Stark County Public Library, St. Peter's Church is a wonderful structure.

Canton Arts District
Information about the area can be found HERE.

Sculptures can be found on various street corners, sides of buildings are decorated with 2D and 3D art installations unique eateries and galleries abound.  Even on the relatively low traffic day we visited Canton, the art alone is worth the look.  Some truly unique art can be found here.

Stark County Courthouse
115 Central Plaza North
Canton, Ohio 44702

We have an architecture theme going here and for good reason.  Canton has a lot of unique buildings!  The Stark County Courthouse was designed in 1895 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The tower, adorned with angels is very striking.

Muggswigz Coffee and Tea Company
137 Walnut Ave NE
Canton, Ohio 44702
Website

Not your chain coffee shop and it shows in the employees and the beverages.  They can make you just about anything with their extensive inventory.  I had a Chai tea Latte and it was probably the best one I've ever had, BAR NONE!

Plenty of locals enjoying the fair and facilties, definitely a place to stop if you are in the area.  We walked there from the arts district in just a few minutes.


Palace Theatre
605 Market Avenue N
Canton, Ohio 44702

The Palace Theatre is considered the cornerstone of the Canton Arts District.  We did not get a chance to go into the theatre, but it has such a presence, even from the outside!

Various Downtown Places
There were plenty of sites to see walking around the downtown while going from place to place we visited above.

Akron Zoo - Small But Packs A Punch

Written:  Danielle and Andrew Livelsberger

Photography: Andrew Livelsberger

Background:
Going just 25 minutes north of Canton is the Akron Zoo.  After visiting the McKinley Memorial and museum and downtown Canton, we push further north!

Impression:
It can be a hard comparison when you live so close to the number one zoo in the country, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  The big difference here is that Akron's Zoo is within the city limits, while Columbus is on the outskirts, where land is plentiful for expansion.

We are happy to report that the Akron Zoo does a wonderful job with the limited space it has, providing a fun experience.  We didn't really need a map of any kind as the layout of the zoo provides you with a path that leads you through everything.

We were happy to see the habitats were clean and well maintained.   Being a smaller footprint has it's benefits.  You got a lot closer to the animals than you might at other zoo facilities.

There are a great variety of animals to see as well.

While this might not be an "all day" zoo, you can spend a few hours walking around and see it all!