Akron in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Glendale Steps
Built over a two-year period, from 1936-1937, by the Federal Works Progress Administration, the Glendale Steps survive as a monument to the work of stone craftsmen during the Great Depression. Spanning a 200-foot slope, the purpose of the Glendale Steps was to enable Akron residents to descend from South Walnut Street to a city park along Glendale Avenue. The 242 sandstone steps were dressed on site and hand laid by WPA laborers at a cost of $22,000. Depression-era budget problems prevented the City of Akron from completing planned improvements to the park.
Erected 2006 by Progress Through Preservation and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 36-77.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Man-Made Features. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists.
Location. 41° 5.134′ N, 81° 31.387′ W. Marker is in Akron, Ohio, in Summit County. Marker is on Glendale Avenue (Ohio Route 162), on the right when traveling west. Marker and Steps are north of Glendale Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 65 Glendale Avenue, Akron OH 44302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fueling Growth in a New Century (approx. ¼ mile away); Heating a City (approx. 0.3 miles away); Creating Crossroads of Commerce (approx. 0.3 miles away); United Rubber Workers International Union (approx. 0.3 miles away); Contributions Of African Americans To Akron's Rubber Industry (approx. 0.4 miles away); Howard Street District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Contributions Of Women To Akron's Rubber Industry (approx. 0.4 miles away); George W. Mathews (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Akron.
Also see . . .
1. The Glendale Steps. Atlas Obscura website entry (Submitted on November 2, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Progress Through Preservation of Greater Akron. Website homepage (Submitted on June 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Historic Akron Sites. Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH website entry (Submitted on July 18, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,711 times since then and 168 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on October 26, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.