hower house

This place is historical in all ways, if you have to plan a meeting or gathering and you need a historical place choose this, you can't go wrong!

Many things inside can recommend a visit to this building, but I do not see why it is so important. I am not that type of person who likes to dwell on making visits to nostalgic places. Yes parts of the history of Akron are here with connections to recent past events and buildings.Is a guided or non-guided tour of this place necessary or essential? Is this tour a quintessential thing to do? I think not. The people who visit this place certainly should be required to get e degree in American and British history for the 19th and early twentieth century time period. Maybe field experiences of some type could be arranged to take place here for the those students. This place is for the most orthodox and conformist members of our society. Probably the more affluent also. History degrees should be on sale at the gift shop. For reasons that I can not enumerate now I look at this place as an antique store and I get cynical when these places are put forward for the residents and others to visit. Why are these places so important to visit when there are professors looking for students to take their classes? Pre-requsites for visiting this place is to take several relevant courses in history. I would object to the gift shop selling things at out-landish prices. Are those gifts necessary? We are told to avoid fast food restaurants well there is a reason to avoid this place too. This is an antique store of sorts since the study of history is not on the front burner of the stoves of many people here. Students with proper accreditation or credentials should be admitted free. Yes it is well maintained but how essential is it for people to visit this place if those same people need money to pay for parking and other expenses at the near-by university? If you need a reason discontinue your attachment to many traditional christmas celebrations then you might find it here in abundance. Why don't you read seven novels from this period? Would Henry James be instructional and relevant? A collection of old photographs from downtown Akron from that earlier period might offer as much instruction as a tour can teach you what is important to learn here. I see this endeavor as a money making place. To say that you are going back for christmas at the Hower House might be a betrayal of good sense because I do not see what there is to bring you back if it is only for cookies and cider. Looking at period furniture in a old house from the time period in question is not my favorite way to pass my free time as I would rather watch the World Series on television. To say that you go here to finish last minute christmas shopping suggests to me that there might be a loose screw or two someplace in the tool shed. Why don't you visit Santa at the same time? Blind adherence to a particular form of capitalism might be at work too to the disadvantage of people who should know better if these same people feel obligated to to re-visit this place for christmas shopping .I am not that type of person for making visit to this type of place as important as it is for Akron. It is not for me to do a second time, maybe not for a first time either. Surrounding grounds are lovely to see as they might remind older people of what parts of the old campus looked like last century when I attend classes. I am not willing to dress up appropriately for a for an event like those that take place there. I do not like halloween for this reason too. If you over-decorate your house for Christmas maybe you will like to visit this place. It is not for me. This is nostalgia.

You can do a self guided tour or a guided one. Most of the Victorians were able to provide a lot of history. The house is mid/late 1800s-early 1900s and it is beautiful, especially at Christmas. Try to attend one of the teas and dress period appropriate or one of the other events (prices range). Regular tours are $8 but discounts (military, group, students, seniors, etc.) are available. If you love history, then you will enjoy yourself. Almost all of the rooms are able to be viewed. Usually takes about an hour to go through.

Interesting to step back in time and relive this particular era. The guides are well versed in the history of Hower House and its inhabitants. See the window with the little girl's name scratched in it. Thanks for the interesting tidbits.

We visited during the Christmas season and the house was absolutely lovely. It was a self-guided tour but there were plenty of volunteers there to give us the history if we wanted to know more. It took us about an hour to go through it. At the end there were cookies and cider to enjoy. Their gift shop helped us finish some last minute Christmas shopping. Really great selection of all sorts of things and reasonable prices. I'll probably go back next year just for the gift shop!

Hower House is a 3-story house that was built in Akron in 1871. It's not especially old, large or historic. It does have many original furnishings and has been well-preserved, however, so it shows the lifestyle and fashions of a wealthy family of that time.What I liked about the Hower house is that most of the rooms are open for visitors to see at their leisure, rather than being limited to a few rooms on a guided tour as is the case in many historic homes. The house is well-staffed and the staff is very friendly, and tours are available. Admission is $8, but there are discounts for students, seniors, military and probably more. We were there when the house was decorated for Christmas, with each room cleverly themed for one of the 12 days of Christmas. 1-2 hours is enough time to see everything here.

Took my mom to tour the home and we loved it! Such a beautiful old home, decorated perfectly. Tour was great and we even got to go into the carriage house to see the old vehicles! And the gift shop downstairs was awesome! Very cute stuff and not pricey at all (like most gift shops of the sort)!

We visited the Hower House on a Friday afternoon during the Christmas season. The tour is eight dollars per person, but there are discounts for children, seniors and students. I visited once before and I remembered everyone being very friendly. However, this time when we walked into the house the woman behind the desk just stared at us without saying anything. I said hello and asked her if we could take a tour. She then just told us the cost and gave us a pamphlet. She offered no information about the house other than pointing and telling us where we needed to start the tour. It was rather awkward. Once we started our tour a volunteer did find us and he gave us lots of information about the house and the furnishings. He didn’t stay with us during our entire tour though, he let us go about the house and then would give us information if we were looking at something in particular. The house was wonderfully decorated; the Christmas decorations just enhanced its charm. One of my favorite parts of the house is that the furnishings were original, many of them having been collected during their numerous trips around the world. (Check out the map in one of the rooms upstairs, it’s rather amazing because it shows all of the places the Howers visited.) There are also photographs in this room of the Howers. I particularly liked the one in front of the Egyptian pyramids. The stairs are also very unique; looking up from the very bottom, you can see straight up to the third floor. There is a small store downstairs that sells tea sets, ornaments and other odds and ends. We purchased a couple of ornaments; everything is pretty reasonably priced. The two ladies in the store were very nice and friendly. The house is part of the University of Akron and we learned on this tour that two female students are picked to live in the house during the school year. There was actually a lady during our visit pointing out what room she stayed in and sharing some of her memories. I wonder if there are any paranormal experiences here; after all Mr. Hower had promised his first wife he would never remarry once she died but ended up marrying his second wife four years later. ;) I definitely recommend a visit especially if you love historic homes. The furnishings in the house are enough to make the visit worthwhile. There is plenty of free parking right behind the house and to start your tour you enter through the front door. The tour guide gave us lots of information on upcoming events (the home is closed in January), so if you’re interested check out their website for details.

Try to go when there is an event...Otherwise you might be disappointed in the presentations

Right on the University of Akron's campus is this unusual, historic house. Beautiful and interesting; Great little cellar shop also.

Hower House is a delightful Victorian-era house near the University of Akron. The interior has been maintained much as the original owners enjoyed it. The architecture is intricate and interesting, but if you are handicapped or in a wheelchair, you will not be able to access the second floor. The steps are steep. But seeing just the first floor is a worthwhile adventure into the past.

This is a beautiful addition to the University of Akron campus and the region. Congratulations University of Akron for your commitment to endeavors such as the preservation of Hower House.

Some thirty years ago while helping at a friend's church activity, I spotted a nearby beauty. She was nearly 100 years old, four stories tall, graced with arched sandstone moldings and etched windows. Peering in the windows while passing by, I saw the last family member of a 100 year occupation. About 1971 or so I read where she had passed, and the home went to Akron University, and its future was unsure at best. Soon Akron residents came to her rescue, and I would hear that bit by bit, room by room, she was being restored and shown.Last Sunday I drove back to Akron....now 3 hours away from my new home, and took a tour of this Italianate beauty.What a wonderful job has been done on her...it appears that no corners were cut, and the tour was not short as I expected, but pleasantly lengthy and included all but her tower, a couple of baths, and a couple rooms occupied by hercaretakers.Like a terrific holiday meal, it was a filling, rich experience which, when over, left me looking foreward to my next occaision at the table. CONGRATULATIONS to Akron, the Hower descendants, the volunteer workers,the contributors, and the terrific tour guide we had on 8/4/02.How well worth the 3 hour drive and thirty year wait !!tou CONGRATULATIONS to Akron, the Hower descendants, and the many volunteers, contri- butors, and our fabulous hostess on 8/4/02. The curiosity held over the past 30 years was more than satisfied....she is a beautiful home which anyone who appreciates architecture or art and design can certainly relish. A job well done, worth a 3 hour drive and a 30 year wait !! W.D. Ray