The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, located in

Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...

, preserves the history of the steel industry that dominated the Youngstown area's economic life for much of the 20th century. The museum is owned by the

Ohio History Connection Ohio History Connection, formerly The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and Ohio Historical Society, is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1885. Headquartered at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio, Ohio History Connec ...

and operated by

Youngstown State University Youngstown State University (YSU or Youngstown State) is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio. It was founded in 1908 and is the easternmost member of the University System of Ohio. The university is composed of six undergraduate colleges an ...

. The facility, which was designed by noted architect

Michael Graves Michael Graves (July 9, 1934 – March 12, 2015) was an American architect, designer, and educator, as well as principal of Michael Graves and Associates and Michael Graves Design Group. He was a member of The New York Five and the Memphis Grou ...

, is reminiscent of a steel mill, complete with stylized smoke stacks.

Origins

A museum to commemorate the community's declining steel industry was first proposed by Ohio State Senator

Harry Meshel Harry Meshel (June 13, 1924 – September 4, 2017) was an American Democratic politician. He served as the president of the Ohio State Senate and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Meshel is noted for his legislative efforts on behalf of t ...

in 1977, and a planning office was opened in

downtown Youngstown Downtown Youngstown is the traditional center of the city of Youngstown, Ohio. After decades of precipitous decline, the downtown area shows signs of renewal. Civic leaders have expressed hope that the district will emerge as a significant arts an ...

the following year. In 1983, $3 million in state funding was approved for the project. A

groundbreaking Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are o ...

ceremony was held in 1986. Construction began in 1989 headed by Graves and the Raymond J. Jaminet Partners firm. The center opened with temporary exhibits in 1990. The museum established a permanent collection and was officially dedicated in 1992.

Current operations

The center's permanent exhibit, titled "By the Sweat of Their Brow: Forging the Steel Valley," examines the community's industrial past using video, photographs, artifacts, and reconstructed scenes. Despite its focus on Youngstown's former staple industry, the center has faced difficulties related to low patronage. Until recently, the center enjoyed low visibility among residents of the Mahoning Valley, and some observers pointed to the center's hours of operation, which do not make the facility accessible to working residents. Nevertheless, the OHS continues to support the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, which has survived rumors of imminent closure. Site manager Nancy Haraburda indicated that more than 8,000 people visited the center in the 2006–2007 fiscal year, an increase of 800 people over the previous fiscal year.

References

External links

Official site from the Ohio Historical Society

- Youngstown State University {{DEFAULTSORT:Youngstown Historical Center Of Industry And Labor Buildings and structures in Youngstown, Ohio Museums in Mahoning County, Ohio Ohio History Connection Michael Graves buildings Industry museums in Ohio Tourist attractions in Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown State University Museums established in 1990 1990 establishments in Ohio