On May 4, 1970, after a long weekend of Vietnam War protests and demonstrations against the United States’ invasion of Cambodia, the National Guard interrupted a rally on the Kent State campus. The events of that day live on in history, as four unarmed students were killed by gunfire and an additional nine were injured. National media outlets quickly disseminated photographs of the aftermath, including one of Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling over Jeffery Miller, anguish and pain on her face.
In 2013, Kent State opened the May 4 Visitors Center. Located in Taylor Hall, which is surrounded by the hill that the National Guard members walked over on one side and the parking lot where the dead and wounded students fell on the other, the history and tragedy of the place is evident.
Filled with a timeline of world and national events that place the event in context, as well as photos and quotes from those who were either there or from the parent’s of those killed that day, the Visitors Center paints a picture of this horrific event.
Another part of the exhibit space is dedicated to the aftermath of the Kent State shootings.
Outside of the May 4 Visitors Center, is a walking tour that features seven waypoints and a video documentary narrated by Julian Bond. It includes an historical marker that describes and commemorates the events.
On the other side of the building, there’s a parking lot. Spots mark where the students fell, and there’s a stone memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives that day.
The Kent State May 4 Visitors Center is scheduled to be closed from May 30 to June 30 this year in order for a “refresh.” Some of the exhibits might change, so if you want to see it as it currently is, now is the time to go there.
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