About Us
The May 4 Visitors Center was founded by Kent State professors, Carol Barbato and Laura Davis, who both witnessed the May 4 shootings as Kent State students. After years of effort by a dedicated team, the May 4 Visitors Center opened its doors in May of 2013. Faculty, administrators, students, community members, veterans, and humanities scholars worked together with local historians to determine the museum's content and design the Visitors Center. Feedback was solicited from all circles through public forums and focus groups.
The project was made possible by a 300,000 dollar grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities and by a combined 667,000 dollars in funding from all 16 deans from every Kent State campus and college. The design firm of Gallagher and Associates worked with Kent State to design the displays. Exhibits were constructed by Exhibit Concepts, Inc. Davis and Barbato, along with GTOO Media produced the film "A Turning Point" which is featured in the Center鈥檚 second gallery. The film won the Golden Eagle Award from the Council on International Non-Theatrical Events in 2013. The Visitors Center also received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Local History Alliance (OLHA) in 2014.