Goodyear closing its museum near its Ohio HQ

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — It’s the end of the World of Rubber, the 61-year-old Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. museum across from the company’s Ohio headquarters.

Goodyear said Tuesday that its executives here have decided to close the free museum, partly because of declining attendance. Company spokesman Scott Baughman says the World of Rubber now goes days without anybody stopping by.

The museum’s last day will be Aug. 28.

Its exhibits include a tire for a NASA moon buggy, Goodyear blimp memorabilia and a reproduction of rubber pioneer Charles Goodyear’s workshop. Baughman acknowledges that the displays haven’t been updated in years.

Goodyear has sold the building housing the museum, and Baughman says finding a new location would have been too costly.