Akron Post Office and Federal Building
Why it's listed
Built between 1927 and 1929 at 168 East Market Street, Akron's second post office is a large, roughly square steel-frame building clad entirely in smooth limestone. Its Roman Neo-Classical Revival design, by acting supervising government architect James A. Wetmore, features terraced granite steps, projecting corner pavilions, a central arcade of five colossal round arches on Tuscan columns, pedimented windows, and a balustraded parapet. All four sides carry the same careful detailing, and the building remains as designed. Akron's population growth before and during World War I made the earlier post office inadequate, and funding was first sought in 1913. Construction began only in 1927, and the building opened in February 1929. Postal work filled the lower floors, while the second floor housed military recruiting, internal revenue, customs, and civil service offices. Postal operations moved to a larger facility in 1975, and the building then became home to a commercial studio business. It remains a familiar Akron landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of Roman Neo-Classical Revival architecture in Summit County. It is finished and detailed consistently on all four elevations and remains as its architect designed it. It also served Akron as its post office and federal building for forty-six years and is a recognizable local landmark.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83002059, listed May 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 168 E. Market St., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | May 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002059 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1929 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Roman Neo-Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; after postal operations moved out in 1975, it became the home of a commercial studio business in 1976. Described as unaltered and on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.08345, -81.51342 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83002059.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4701688
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.