Historically, Youngstown grew from a small coal community to a steel manufacturing metropolis, but nearly lost half of its residents during the post-steel economic decline of the 1970s. Today, Youngstown has undergone an economic turnaround with its many cultural attractions and recreational resources. There are plenty of fun activities that the whole family will enjoy in and around Youngstown, many of which are educational as well as recreational.
The Children's Center for Science and Technology, formally known as the Children's Museum of the Valley, is being relocated to East Boardman Street across the street from the USA Parking structure in downtown Youngstown. The center combines education and entertainment with science and technology, as well as offers children of all ages numerous hands-on, high-tech and interactive science exhibits. Exhibits are always being updated and rotated so kids can keep coming back for new experiences. The nonprofit center also sponsors a number of educational programs, such as school field trips, school outreach exhibits and classroom education kits--offered free of charge to area teachers. The center will reopen at the new location in the fall of 2010. Call for further details.
Children's Center for Science and Technology
139 E. Boardman St.
Youngstown, OH 44501
330-744-5914
ohwowkids.org
The Davis Education and Visitor Center is located in Youngstown, on the west side of Interstate 680 off Mahoning Avenue in the Fellows Riverside Gardens on the grounds of the Mill Creek Park. The visitor center features educational facilities, including a horticulture library, Teachers' Resource Center, a two-and-a-half story wraparound observation tower, an art gallery, a museum, as well as a garden and a cafe. The center sponsors several outreach programs, such as its agriculture, nature, history and horticulture classes and school field trips. Once inside the park, families can also enjoy the area's recreation activities, such as boating, fishing, hiking and biking, as well as take advantage of the numerous picnic tables equipped with grills, playgrounds and a number of free tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.
Davis Education and Visitor Center
123 McKinley Ave.
Youngstown, OH 44509
330-740-7116
millcreekmetroparks.com
Lanterman's Mill, said to be Youngstown’s most historic landmark, is located just south of Idora Park, northeast of downtown Youngstown. Built in the middle 1800s as a way for pioneers to stone-grind corn, wheat and buckwheat, Lanterman's Mill today is a favorite vacation stop for history-inquisitive families. Visitors can experience first-hand how early pioneers produced grain meal because the mill still operates much as it did when it first opened. Overlooking the Lanterman's Falls next to the mill is an observation deck, and downstream from the mill lies the original Lanterman's Mill grinding stone. The historic half-ton stone rests just off shore on the creek bottom as a result of the flood of 1843. Just upstream from the fall is the Lanterman's Covered Bridge, a replica of the original built in the 1800s, which brought grain over the creek to the mill.
Lanterman's Mill
980 Canfield Road
Youngstown, OH 44511
330-740-711
www.millcreekmetroparks.org
