Why You Should Visit Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio was once a steel town, much like its neighbor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, now that steel is no longer a prevalent part of the economy, not as many people visit this charming city. Truly it is a shame to miss out on all that this gem of Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Youngstown is home to Mill Creek Park. The park is made of up of approximately 2530 acres making it one of the largest city parks in the nation. It is home to the Mill Creek Park Championship Golf Course that was named the 26th Best Municipal Golf Course in the country by "Golf Week" magazine. Lanternman's Mill, a real working grain mill, is also on the property and has a gift shop in which visitors can purchase corn meal, buckwheat, and whole wheat flours that are ground there. However, the crowning gem of the park has to be Fellows Riverside Gardens. The gardens were built using money donated by Mrs. Elizabeth A. Fellows in 1958. Many different flowers are in the garden. In fact, the springtime alone, over 40,000 bulbs bloom in the garden including tulips and crocuses. Of all the beautiful flowers, it is the extensive rose collection that has made the garden famous. With such a wonderful array of flowers, the gazebo in the Fellows Riverside Gardens has made it a popular place for weddings in Youngstown.

The other pride of Youngstown is the Butler Museum of American Art. The Butler was the first known museum dedicated solely to displaying American art. With free admission, the museum relies on donations to keep going. The museum's permanent collection contains many impressive pieces, including the works of American artists Georgia O'Keefe and Andy Warhol. The signature piece of the museum is Winslow Homer's "Crack the Whip" that is often depicted in the museum's literature. The painting features children playing in front of a one-room schoolhouse and is a classic example of American times of the past. Additionally, check out the Beecher Center in the south wing, which is the first museum addition used for the purpose of displaying new media or electronic art. For the sports fans, the Donnell Gallery of American Sports Art has works that display almost every sport from boxing to baseball.

For 82 years now, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra has been enriching this urban area with wonderful performances. Their schedule includes a vast array of Broadway shows like "Aida" and "Chicago" (both on the orchestra's schedule for 2007) as well as performances with various guest conductors, musicians, and vocalists. When the orchestra was first formed in 1926, it only had 12 members and they were all under sixteen years of age. Currently, the impressive orchestra has grown tremendously to also include a youth orchestra formed in 1954. The orchestra splits their performances among a few different venues in Youngstown, including the historic Powers Auditorium, which is a must-see for any visitor.

Keeping in the tradition of the steel mills that put Youngstown on the map is the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor. This museum really highlights a great deal of history about the city of Youngstown. Inside there are real locker rooms from closed down mills, tools used in making steel, and even last batches of steel produced in local mills that have since shut down. The vast array of photographs and images really gives a visitor a great deal of insight on what a booming city Youngstown once was and reasoning behind why the city continues to be a melting pot of various cultures that still inhabit the area. The center also offers a library, archives, and several educational programs.

So, the next time you are driving through Ohio on any of the various highways and byways that pass through, make a stop at Youngstown, Ohio and experience the history of this great city.