The largest city in Portage County, Kent is located in the heart of Northeast Ohio. You’re also in close proximity to the city’s higher education; Kent is only 15 miles east of the University of Akron, six miles northwest of the Northeast Ohio Medical University and six miles southwest of Hiram College. And of course Kent is home to Kent State University, which has eight campuses around the Northeast Ohio region, with the main campus in Kent being the largest. Other campuses are located in Ashtabula, Burton, East Liverpool, Jackson Township, New Philadelphia, Salem, and Warren, Ohio. Kent State gained an unwanted national spotlight when The National Guard fired on four student war protestors in 1970 and that tragic day is commemorated with the May 4 Memorial, a granite plaza built on a two-and-one-half acre site with a Visitor Center that has a small but moving exhibit.
Plunge into the city’s civic history with a trip to the Kent Historical Society. In addition to its strong tradition of displaying artifacts in the Rowe Museum, the Society maintains the Kent Historical Resource Center for those researching local and family history. One of the major saves was the preservation and renovation of the landmark 1875 Kent Railway Station. In 1975, the society bought the station and the second floor of the station serves as the Society's offices and museum. The Portage County Historical Society is also notable for collecting, preserving and displaying items of historical value relating to the County. Kent has an abundance of attractions for the whole family to enjoy nearby, like The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland. In between shopping from local merchants, taking in live music, eateries and local festivals, you can relax and take it all when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Kent, OH. Book a room online now!