Akron in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
United States Synthetic Rubber Program 1939-1945
National Historic Chemical Landmark
— Akron, Ohio —
Photographed By Jamie Abel, June 23, 2011
1. United States Synthetic Rubber Program Marker
Top plaque:
When the natural rubber supply from Southeast Asia was cut off at the beginning of World War II, the United States and its allies faced the loss of a strategic material. With U.S. government sponsorship, a consortium of companies involved in rubber research and production united in a unique spirit of technical cooperation and dedication to produce a general-purpose synthetic rubber, GR-S (Government Rubber-Styrene), on a commercial scale. In Akron and other U.S. locations, these companies, in collaboration with a network of researchers in numerous government, academic, and industrial laboratories, developed and manufactured in record time enough synthetic rubber to meet the needs of the U.S. and its allies during World War II.
The B.F. Goodrich Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
United States Rubber Company
Bottom plaque:
Dedicated August 29, 1998 at the University of Akron, this site was selected because of its central location and the participation of the rubber research laboratories in the wartime development of synthetic rubber.
Erected 1998 by American Chemical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
this page online
Location. 41° 4.623′ N, 81° 30.861′ W. Marker is in Akron, Ohio, in Summit County. Marker is on University Avenue, 0 miles east of Hill Street. The marker is located alongside a turn-around, just in front of the Goodyear Polymer Center on the campus of the University of Akron. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 170 University Avenue, Akron OH 44325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Bernard's Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Summit County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); In Memory of Arthur Snell (approx. ¼ mile away); 1936 Akron Rubber Strike (approx. 0.4 miles away); GG9 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Contributions Of Women To Akron's Rubber Industry (approx. 0.4 miles away); Contributions Of African Americans To Akron's Rubber Industry (approx. 0.4 miles away); Akron Community Service Center and Urban League (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Akron.
Also see . . .
1. The University of Akron School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering.
Photographed By Jamie Abel, June 23, 2011
2. United States Synthetic Rubber Program Marker
Marker on the turn-around of University Avenue.
2. United States Synthetic Rubber Program. American Chemical Society web page describing the program in more detail. (Submitted on July 18, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio.)
3. Synthetic rubber. Wikipedia page gives some background. (Submitted on July 18, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio.)
Photographed By Jamie Abel, June 23, 2011
3. United States Synthetic Rubber Program Marker
The Goodyear Polymer Center, in front of which stands the marker and, in this photo, a 40-foot-tall, transparent polyurethane sculpture by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,402 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 18, 2011, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
