William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum |
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| General information | |
| Location | Canton, Ohio, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°48′23.08″N 81°23′33.06″W / 40.8064111°N 81.3925167°W |
| Named for | William McKinley |
| Management | Stark County Historical Society |
The William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is a special place in Canton, Ohio. It is dedicated to William McKinley, who was the 25th President of the United States. This museum and library is run by the Stark County Historical Society. It sits right next to the McKinley National Memorial.
William McKinley had a long career in Canton, Ohio. He worked as a lawyer and a prosecuting attorney. He also served as a congressman and a governor before becoming president.
Contents
Discovering William McKinley's Life
The museum holds the largest collection of items from William McKinley's life. These exhibits tell the story of the 25th president. You can learn about his life from when he was born until his passing.
Another part of the museum shows how the McKinley National Memorial was built. It also shares the sad story of the McKinleys' home in Canton. Their home was destroyed by a fire in 1937.
Explore the Museum's Fun Exhibits
The museum has a cool science center. It features exhibits about wildlife and fossils. There is also a special area for temporary exhibits called the Keller Gallery.
The museum also offers exciting planetarium shows. Because of its science center, the museum has a membership plan. This plan lets members visit other similar museums across the United States. The museum also displays items about the city of Canton itself.
Many helpful volunteers keep the museum running smoothly. Kimberly Kenney is the current curator, who helps manage the museum's collections.
The Hoover-Price Planetarium
The Hoover-Price Planetarium is a popular part of the museum. It opened in July 1963. The planetarium is located right next to the McKinley National Memorial in Canton, Ohio.
Richard Emmons (1919-2005) was a key person in creating the planetarium. He was an engineer and a program director at another planetarium. An asteroid, 5391 Emmons, was named in his honor.
The main star projector in the planetarium was a Spitz Model A-3-P. Mr. Emmons improved it to show 1,500 more stars. Most of the original equipment came from Spitz Laboratories. The dome was made by Astro-Dome, Inc., of Canton. It is 7.2 meters wide and made of aluminum.
The planetarium has 60 extra projectors. These can show solar and lunar eclipses, meteors, and the life cycle of stars. They can also show double stars, the Aurora Borealis, and rainbows. You can even see the Milky Way galaxy, views of the moon, and sunrises and sunsets.
The planetarium was built with private donations. It is named after the Hoover family and Mr. and Mrs. Harley C. Price. Their gifts made the project possible. The planetarium has not changed much since 1964. However, it now has two DLP projectors and a computer. These help create new images.
Richard Emmons' son, Thomas Emmons, helps maintain the planetarium today. David L. Richards is the current director. He works with a small team of four part-time lecturers. All the shows are created right there at the planetarium.
Ramsayer Research Library
The museum also has a research library. It is called the "Ramsayer Research Library." This library is located in the South Wing of the building. It holds many important historical documents and records.
See also
