Explore Barberton through two interests: outdoor recreation and local history. Lake Anna, several trails, and buildings and facilities associated with O. C. Barber offer different ways to get started. When planning, it helps to distinguish between walks by the water, a bike ride through downtown, and cultural and historical sites.
Lake Anna and Outdoor Trails
The 21.1-acre Lake Anna Park is set in a scenic lakeside location that invites visitors to walk and run. The park is also the venue for the annual Barberton Mum Festival. The two-day festival takes place on the last full weekend in September around Lake Anna in downtown Barberton. If you are traveling specifically for the festival, check the current dates before your trip.
The pavilion at Lake Anna Park can be reserved during the spring and fall months. This means reservations are available during these two seasons; the specific dates are a practical consideration when planning a visit to the park.
You can explore the history of the Ohio-&-Erie Canal on the multi-use Towpath Trail. At the Barberton Trailhead, you can go biking, cross-country skiing, and enjoy scenic hikes; pets are allowed. Unless otherwise noted, the Towpath Trail is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Historic Walking Trail offers another way to learn about local history while taking a walk. For a bike ride through downtown, The Magic Mile is a specific option: The route is one mile long, starts at the Towpath connecting bridge, and loops through downtown Barberton. These options differ both in activity and subject matter, ranging from running by the lake and biking to exploring the history of the canal and the city.
Buildings, Art, and Barberton's History
Among the historic buildings is Barn No. 1. Built in 1909, it is located at 115 3rd St SE and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The O. C. Barber Piggery, also known as the “Pork Palace,” is a historic agricultural building on Anna-Dean Farm. Its address is 248 Robinson Avenue.
O. C. Barber's surviving buildings recall Barberton's history and continue to attract visitors. Those interested in O. C. Barber and the Anna Dean Farm can find materials about them in the Local History Room at the Barberton Public Library. Along with the buildings themselves, local history collections offer another way to explore Barberton's past.
The White Rabbit Galleries offer a different cultural perspective. They give local artists a place to create, exhibit, and sell their work. Together with the historic sites, they provide a broad range of local subjects, from agricultural architectural history and the history of the Ohio-&-Erie Canal to contemporary art.
Discover more destinations: Stow, Akron, Twinsburg, Clinton, Macedonia, Northfield, Fairlawn, Cuyahoga Falls.
For the regional travel overview: Summit.
