AKRON, Ohio — Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens -- one of Akron’s most well-known destinations -- will open to the public for the 2022 season starting April 1.
“This year's theme explores the many notable events and social gatherings hosted by the Seiberlings from 1915 through the 1930s, with a focus on the important role played by the domestic staff,” Stan Hywet officials announced Friday. “Guided tours return after a hiatus due to the pandemic, along with a full schedule of public programs and special events.”
Masks are currently optional at Stan Hywet.
This year, visitors can choose between a self-guided tour or a guided tour, which includes the following:
- Guided Manor House Tour
- Nooks & Crannies Tour
- Grand Estate and Outdoor History tours (beginning in May)
Throughout the month of April, guests who buy a tour ticket and donate a non-perishable food item when they arrive will be given a second ticket for free. All food donations will be give to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
Here’s how Stan Hywet describes what guests can expect this year:
The exhibit in the Manor House showcases how the estate was used for family gatherings and celebrations, as well as fundraisers, musical performances and lectures,” officials noted. “The exhibit also examines the key role of the domestic staff, and how they orchestrated an event at Stan Hywet Hall, displaying the practical and logistical side of entertaining in a large home during the early part of the 20th century.
Manor House spaces will show how the domestic staff managed the home. The kitchen will look as if the cook is preparing food for a large event - with details about the immigrant workers employed by the family and the job description of the cook. The library appears as if it's being cleaned while the Seiberlings are out of town, with information about the duties of the housemaid. A guest room will be stripped of bed linens, as if it's being turned over for the next overnight guest, with details about the responsibilities of the chambermaid.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated article on March 4, 2022.
