Goodyear Airdock

Built in 1930. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.

From the record

“The Goodyear Airdock is an airship construction and storage hangar in Akron, Ohio. At its completion in 1929, it was the largest building in the world without interior supports.”
Wikipedia article Goodyear Airdock, CC BY-SA 4.0.

one of 137 National Register listings in Summit County · listed in 1973 · category: Building · built in 1930 · one of 1 National Historic Landmarks in Summit County.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. S side of the Akron Airport, Akron, 44306
When was it listed? 1973-04-11
Category. building
Township. Akron city
When was it built? 1930
National Register reference number. 73002259 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

22,626 words

The chapter on Akron City in Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1908 names Akron. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

It is inaccurate to say that the Ohio Canal made Akron. The city as it stands today is the resultant of many causes. Many and different influences, and various men and measures, have co-operated toward the end now attained. The start was made long before the Ohio Canal was built. - Within the present limits of the city, settlements at two different points had been made, which antedate the canal by nearly two decades. In 1807 the first settlement had been made in Middlebury. In 1811 Miner Spicer had started "Spicertown." In the same year Paul Williams settled upon the lands immediately west of the Spicer settlement and adjoining the land of General Simon Perkins on the east. When the canal was opened in 1827 Middlebury was an important village. It had attracted many settlers from the East, principally from Connecticut, and boasted of half a dozen mills and factories, a dozen stores, three inns and about five hundred inhabitants. It certainly deserved a place on the maps of the time.

Passage source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1908.

Let us search that we may find, if we can, the economic reasons for the existence of Akron. The sentence that begins this chapter contains the idea that is ordinarily advanced as the sole reason for the Akron of today. The unthinking man repeats: "The canal made Akron." The wTiter on Akron history records: "Dr. Eliakim G. Crosby made Akron."

Passage source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, published 1908.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Akron City - 22,626 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Specimens collected near this property

12 of 731 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 731 specimens collected within 10 miles of Goodyear Airdock between 1867 and 1975: 620 Animalia, 65 Plantae, 44 Fungi, 1 Unrecorded, 1 Bacteria. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by (no collector listed), A. W. Cusick, A. Woolman and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Species	Year	Collected by	Where, as recorded
Botrychium virginianum subsp. virginianum	1888	Wright, A.A.	Tallmadge.
Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq.	1889	Foltz, Kent O.	Sand Run Park; Akron
Asclepias verticillata L.	1889	not recorded	Akron
Accipiter striatus velox (A.Wilson, 1812)	1867	Collector(s): James Lee Peters	Akron
Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P.Fuchs	1880	F. O. Payne	Akron
Geum aleppicum Jacq.	1887	Elliott	Greensburg
Geum canadense Jacq.	1887	Elliott	Greensburg
Hydrastis canadensis L.	1888	E.L. Sturtevant II
Lonicera dioica L.	1888	K. O. Foltz
Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd.	1888	K. O. Foltz
Agrimonia gryposepala Wallr.	1889	Elliott	Greensburg
Carex pensylvanica Lam.	1889	Foltz, K.O.	Akron

All 731 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 13 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 13 workings within 5 miles of Goodyear Airdock: 8 past producers, 4 producers, 1 plant. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Clay, Coal. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
Carbon Limestone Company Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken, Clay, Coal	Producer
Arlington Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Barberton Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Hammond Brothers Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Hammond Brothers Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Knight Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Knight Plant & Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Plant
Lerkis Pit & Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Martz Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Martz Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Summit County

Storms near this property

60 of 75 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Akron, the town this property stands in, in 75 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 38 hail, 31 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 1 lightning. The reports record 2 deaths. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
July 2013	Flash Flood	Akron	1 killed, $3,800,000	On Wednesday afternoon, July 10, the City of Akron experienced 3 to 4 inches of rain in an hour and a half. Flooding occurred causing the closings of roadways and expressways. Along with the roadway flooding, the City received reports of nearly 200 flooded basements. Widespread flooding was reported throughout the city and numerous homes, businesses, and vehicles were inundated by the rain.
May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	1 killed, $20,000	Weakened tree fell onto home in Akron and killed occupant. Thunderstorm was likely sub-severe per radar data. The nearby Akron-Fulton International Airport ASOS recorded a peak convective wind gust of 44 mph at 9:26 AM EST. No other reports of thunderstorm-related damage or severe convective weather were received as the cluster of storms moved through the Akron area.
June 2007	Hail	Akron	$288,000,000	A severe thunderstorm moved across Summit County and caused unprecedented damage. Hail as large as softballs fell across much of the county. Extensive damage was done to homes and vehicles in Akron and surrounding areas. Nearly 51,100 insurance claims were filed for damage in the county. The south side of Akron was the hardest hit.
July 2012	Hail	Akron	$750,000	Hail as large as golf balls was reported. Many vehicles and a few homes were damaged by the hail.
September 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed trees and limbs in the Akron and Stow areas resulting in scattered power outages. At the peak of the storm a few thousand customers were without power.
June 2009	Hail	Akron	$50,000	Half dollar size hail was observed.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Akron. Three cars were damaged by the fallen trees.
August 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$50,000	In Akron and in Springfield Township, trees and power lines were downed, some on vehicles and houses.
August 1996	Lightning	Akron	$40,000	no account filed
June 2011	Hail	Akron	$15,000	Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail for several minutes. The size of the hail increased significantly around 8:40pm EST, to half dollar size.
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$15,000	Many trees were reported down throughout the county.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$15,000	Numerous trees were reported down.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree. The tree landed on a house and caused some damage.
April 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$10,000	A trained weather spotter reported windows blown out of a building on Main Street and roof damage to a shed.
July 2006	Hail	Akron	$10,000	Hail ranging between quarter and nickel size was observed.
June 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds downed four large trees.
January 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$7,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
December 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed three trees. All three trees blocked streets.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
September 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
September 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed one tree and a large limb.
June 2008	Hail	Akron	$3,000	Nickel size hail was observed.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$3,000	Thunderstorm winds, estimated at up to 80 miles per hour, downed trees.
September 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	Parts of an air conditioner blew off a rood near Grant Street in Akron.
June 2013	Hail	Akron	$2,000	Reports of quarter size hail were received from trained spotters and via twitter north of downtown Akron.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	A tree and large limb was reported down.
July 2003	Hail	Akron	$2,000	Nickel size hail was observed.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree.
August 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree.
May 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	no account filed
August 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$2,000	no account filed
October 2018	Hail	Akron	$1,000	Large hail damaged a window.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree.
July 2013	Hail	Akron	$1,000	A trained weather spotter reported quarter size hail.
May 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	-	Large tree limbs downed in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood of Akron.
August 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	-	Several large tree limbs downed in Akron.
March 2020	Hail	Akron	-	Social media report with picture of tennis ball-size hail about two miles north of downtown Akron.
September 2020	Flash Flood	Akron	-	Route 8 northbound was closed from Perkins St to E. Tallmadge Avenue. Akron police reported traffic accidents and delays due to the high water conditions. Route 8 southbound closed at Seasons Rd in Hudson/Stow to flooding. Storm total rainfall from Hudson 4.75.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	-	Thunderstorm winds were estimated at 65 mph.
May 2014	Hail	Akron	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
May 2014	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
July 2014	Hail	Akron	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
September 2012	Hail	Akron	-	Nickel sized hail was observed.
September 2012	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
July 2012	Hail	Akron	-	Nickel sized hail was observed.
July 2012	Hail	Akron	-	Nickel sized hail was observed.
July 2012	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter sized hail was reported.
August 2011	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
August 2011	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
August 2011	Hail	Akron	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	-	Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree branches.
May 2011	Hail	Akron	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
April 2011	Hail	Akron	-	Quarter size hail was reported.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Akron	-	An automated observing station measured a 59mph wind gust.
June 2010	Hail	Akron	-	Penny sized hail was observed.
September 2010	Hail	Akron	-	Thunderstorms produced nickel size hail.

Every storm recorded in Summit County

Newspapers printed here

0 digitised pages

2 papers published in this town, digitised by the Library of Congress and free to read: 0 issues, 0 pages. Every page is searchable, so a name or a street can be looked for directly in what the town printed about itself at the time.

Newspaper	Published
Akron Daily Democrat	1892 to 1902
Summit County Labor News	1923 to 1976

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

From the nomination file

7,740 words on record

When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.

Statement of significance

It houses the photographic division of, the Commerce losophy Communications SIGNIFICANCE Conservation Aboriginal Art REGISTER Religion/Phi Architecture NATIONAL Theater Science Prehistoric Agriculture Music itarian Education Social/Human- centers for development and construction of lighter-than-air Landscape Zeppelin Corporation from plans created by the Wilbur Watson RECEIVED Political original purpose. Goodyear Aerospace Corporation. At the present time the building is a part of the Goodyear The Goodyear Airdock was constructed in 1929 by the Goodyear Sculpture Urban Planning Invention dirigibles, the Akron and the Macon, were built in the Airdock. With the construction of the Airdock, Akron became one of the Pre-Columbian| cost of 2.2 million dollars.
NOV 20 1972 Other (Specify) PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Engineering Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Work began on April Transportation ships. Aerospace complex. Among the first large airships to be constructed was The structure is no longer used for its the Navy dirigible 193land 1934 two other Public Relations Dept., Goodyear Aerospace Corp., July, 1971. pp. 444-448.

The whole case file for this property - 7,740 words, 25 pages, reproduced complete.

Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 73002259, 25 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Akron--Fulton International Airport Administration Building	0.8 miles	2001
Goodyear Hall--Ohio Savings and Trust Company	2.5 miles	2014
Viall Lodge	2.6 miles	1994
A. Schrader's Son, Inc. of Ohio Buildings	2.9 miles	2021
East Market Street Church of Christ	3.0 miles	1989
Robinson, Byron W., House	3.4 miles	1991

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 73002259 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Summit County	All 137 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.