HOWER HOUSE MUSEUM HOLIDAY HOME TOUR – 2024
A Holiday Home Tour that is worth a road trip.
This 28-room Victorian Mansion located on the grounds of the University of Akron, is one of the city’s often overlooked treasures. The home was completed in 1871, by John Henry Hower, a leading Akron industrialist who was active in the milling, reaping, and cereal industries. Well-known Akron architect Jacob Snyder designed the house in the Second Empire Italianate style.
“A Magnificent Menagerie: Creatures Great and Small”
Every year the staff and volunteers gather in early November to take on the task of decorating this beautiful historical home for the holidays. From the parlor, up the magnificent staircase to the bedrooms, to the third-floor ballroom. Every room has been decorated in this year’s holiday theme.
This year’s decorations did not disappoint.
In the music room you will find that Ohio’s state bird, the cardinal, is given center stage. In the Library, animals from the forest find their way amongst the books. “Pretty as a Peacock” colors and decor’ can be found in the Dining Room.
Climb the stairs to the second floor to tour the Dutch Marquetry Sitting Room & Bedroom. Be careful, the mice are enjoying their time taking a bath. But just around the corner Santa is playing his own game of catch.
In the Master Bedroom & Bath it’s an I.Q. Zoo, a midcentury animal amusement park. Frog & Toad, alongside their neighbor, Owl are best friends in Papa’s Bedroom. You will find Little Grace reading to the animals in Grace’s Room.
Although the Ladies Drawing Room is on the third floor; it along with the Ballroom and Warming Kitchen always seem to make my top favorite Hower House decorated room list. This year the entire third floor brings the magic of the forest to the museum. In the drawing room you will be treated to tea with the “Majesty of the Forest”. In the Ballroom, “The Enchanted Forest” comes alive with a life size Mrs. Rabbit and Mrs. Cat who are wrapping presents, all while Santa reads a story to the animals and Mrs. Claus plays the piano. Before heading downstairs, you will pass the warming kitchen, where the birds of the forest will greet you from their tree stump perches.
Each of the rooms are reason enough to climb the stairs to the top.
As you head downstairs to the Cellar Door, make sure you stop at the 1st floor Historic Kitchen. There you will find “The 12 Days of Christmas”. You may find yourself singing the song to find them all.
Holiday Hours 2024
November 7-December 29, 2024 (select dates)
Time: 1PM-4PM
Friday & Saturdays 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tours are self-guided. Last tour starts one hour before closing.| Group tours by appointment.
Location: The University of Akron
60 Fir Hill, Akron, OH 44325
330.972.6909 | website
Allow time to visit the Cellar Door Boutique in the lower level. Tea items, holiday ornaments and unique gifts can be found among the shelves. There is even a cross-stitch pattern of the home for sale.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.
- Make sure to check tour times.
- The house is not handicapped accessible. There are steps.
- For those who can not climb the interior steps to the 2nd & 3rd floor, a video is available to learn more about the home and will be set-up for you in the 1st floor kitchen.
- Photography is not permitted, unless prior arrangements are made.
- Tours are self-guided. Last tour starts one hour before closing.
- Free parking is available on-site, or on the street during select times.
MAKE IT A DAY!
The Hower House Museum is located in downtown Akron and just minutes from these noteworthy stops:
- Don Drumm Studios & Gallery
- The Bomb Shelter – Retro store
- The Peanut Shoppe
- Perkins Stone Mansion – Summit County Historical Society
- Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
For additional road trip ideas visit
Article and photos, unless noted by: MyOhioFun.com
Diane is the owner and editor of MyOhioFun.com. She is an avid baker, gardener, Little Free Library owner, who loves to read and travel. She spends most of her days sharing her love of things to do in Ohio, as well as creating destinations and itineraries for group tours and individual travelers.
Editor’s note: This list started in 2020 and is continually updated for the current year. The dates and additional events have been updated for the 2024 season. Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws.
***Disclosure: My Ohio Fun receives compensation from advertising banners. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***
