Hoover Historical Center at Walsh University

05/23/2026

Hoover Historical Center Director, Megan Pellegrino, had the absolute pleasure to introduce students to Eileen Cooper, one of the 84 evacuees brought to North Canton by The Hoover Company during WWII. They met Eileen in Royal Tunbridge Wells while on a study abroad experience exploring life in London during the war. Hearing about Eileen's experiences and the lasting impacts of her time in America was truly an honor.

05/12/2026

We had the best time over the past two days welcoming nearly 300 third-grade students from North Canton City Schools as they finished their local history unit! They were very excited to stand in "Boss" Hoover's childhood home!

05/04/2026

We are ecstatic to be a part of the Stark County Historical Pastport program! Pick up your Pastport at the museum when you come for a free tour or at any of the other participating sites, get your Pastport stamped at ten locations on the list, and receive a cool prize (hopefully you think a hat is cool)! Start your historical adventure today!

Explore the history and heritage of Stark County, Ohio through engaging historical sites and educational experiences for kids, families, and history lovers with the Stark County Historical Pastport.

05/01/2026

Did you know that the Hoover Historical Center was originally located 1300 feet to the east of its current location (around where Walgreens is located), on the corner of Market Avenue and East Maple Street?

The Hoover homestead initially consisted of 82 acres purchased in 1851. In 1994, Maytag (then owners of Hoover) decided to sell a portion of the property for the development of Washington Square. In 1997, it was determined that the best course of action would be to move the house, tannery, and large barn into Hoover Park. The cost of the move and associated expenses totaled $400,000.

The pictures below show the house and tannery lifted for the move as well as some photos from the original location.

Want to learn more about the history of the Hoover property? Be sure to join us at the 2026 Hoover Park Festival on Sunday, August 2nd from 1-5pm.

03/24/2026

Thanks to The Canton Repository / CantonRep.com for the article about Wednesday night's kickoff event for the Stark County Historical Pastport and documentary series on Stark County history! We are thrilled to be a part of the panel discussion and to have a teaser of the Hoover Historical Center episode shown!

Join us at the Massillon Lions Lincoln Theater tomorrow night. Doors open at 6:00 and the program begins at 6:30.

Segments of Stark County Local History Group's documentary series will be screened for first time at Lions Lincoln Theatre. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Red Point Digital

03/18/2026

We are so excited to share a project that we have been a part of in recognition of Stark County's contributions to America's first 250 years! Join us on Wednesday, March 25th at the Lion's Lincoln Theater for the launch of the Stark County Pastport!

02/27/2026

Opening day is Thursday, March 5th! Come and see what we are all about!

Step inside the Hoover Historical Center in North Canton to explore how Hoover grew from a leather goods business to one of the world’s most well-known vacuum brands.

🔗 https://www.ohiomagazine.com/travel/article/visit-a-museum-that-honors-america-s-most-famous-vacuum-cleaner

02/20/2026

Walsh University Launches Hoover Historical Center Tour Season and Joins Stark County Historical Pastport: America 250 Initiative
North Canton, Ohio

Walsh University invites the community to celebrate the opening of the 2026 tour season at the Hoover Historical Center, beginning Thursday, March 5, as the museum also joins a countywide America 250 initiative that brings local history to life through a new interactive experience.

Operated by Walsh University, the Hoover Historical Center opens for free, guided tours March through October on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Located on the historic Hoover farm in North Canton, the museum preserves and shares the story of local innovation that transformed households around the world.

This year, the Hoover Historical Center is participating in the “Stark County Historical Pastport,” an America 250 project led by the Stark County Local History Group in collaboration with historical organizations throughout the county. The initiative connects residents and visitors to Stark County landmarks through a documentary style social media campaign hosted by filmmaker and history enthusiast Brittany Dobish. Participants can follow along with their own Pastport and receive a stamp at each location or historical society event they attend. Those who collect at least 10 stamps through 2026 will receive an official Stark County Historical Pastport hat when they drop off their completed booklet at Visit Canton beginning March 25, 2026.

The Stark County Historical Pastport is made possible by The Hoover Foundation, with additional support from Visit Canton, ArtsinStark, and America 250-Ohio.

The Pastport premiere event will take place Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way East in Massillon. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the program running from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The evening will feature a Stark County history panel, information about participating historical societies, a sneak peek at the upcoming documentary series, and keynote speaker Dr. Thomas Sosnowski. Admission is free, and attendees will have the opportunity to receive their first Pastport stamp.

Megan Pellegrino, Director of Museum Studies and Director of the Hoover Historical Center at Walsh University, will serve as a member of the history panel during the kickoff event, representing the University and highlighting the Hoover legacy as part of Stark County’s broader story of innovation and industry.

The Hoover Historical Center is also now featured on the Ohio Innovation Trail, a statewide showcase celebrating Ohio’s creativity and invention as part of the America 250 commemoration. Highlighting more than 80 destinations, the trail explores Ohio’s impact on industries ranging from sports to household technology, including the modern vacuum cleaner invented in North Canton. The museum tells the story of James Murray Spangler’s first electric suction sweeper and The Hoover Company’s vision, preserving a local innovation that changed homes worldwide. The museum welcomed 3,000 visitors last year from 21 states and three countries.

In addition to its regular tour season, the Hoover Historical Center will host several special events in 2026. The Hoover Park Festival will take place on Sunday, August 2, from 1 to 5 p.m., and will feature the full Pastport documentary episode highlighting the Hoover Historical Center. Christmas on Hoover Farm will be held Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about tours, events, or the Stark County Historical Pastport, contact the Hoover Historical Center at Walsh University.

02/05/2026

Join our team! We are looking to add a few members to our seasonal tour-guide staff. This is a paid position and the successful candidate can expect to work 8-12 hours per month from March through October. If you have a passion for history and enjoy public speaking, please send an email to [email protected].

01/27/2026

Mark your calendars and join us next Tuesday, February 3rd at the North Canton Civic Center!

Learn some North Canton history at the North Canton Civic Center next Tuesday! All are welcome.