The 45th National Stereoscopic Association Convention

2019 3D-Con

July 30 - August 5, 2019 • Hilton Akron Fairlawn • Akron, OH

2019 NSA in Akron, Ohio

Attention 2019 3D-Con Attendees -- Register Early!!

The 2019 NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies is scheduled for Saturday, August 3rd ending a full week of activities in Canton. We encourage all of our attendees to reserve their hotel rooms as early as possible.

THIS ISN'T CLEVELAND! We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to Akron, Ohio for 3D-Con 2019 scheduled for July 30th through August 5th, 2019. While geographically located only 30 miles south of Cleveland, the two cities have little resemblance to each other. The name Akron, derived from Greek meaning "an elevation" or "point", offers the first clue. Akron and the surrounding cities are settled on gentle, rolling hills that extend eastward into Pennsylvania. The city itself began to flourish in 1827 with the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal that joined Akron and Cleveland. Early business interests included mills, furnaces and textiles. By the late 1800s, both BFGoodrich and Goodyear were producing bicycle and automotive tires in Akron. Not surprisingly, Akron became known as the "Rubber Capitol of the World".

The Co-Founder of Goodyear, Frank Seiberling, made his home in Akron and built Stan Hywet Hall between 1912 and 1915. Stan Hywet Hall is the nation's 6th largest historic home open to the public. The Estate includes five historic buildings and ten historic gardens on 70 acres. The collections and furnishings in the Manor House are all original to the Estate. Stan Hywet Hall offers fantastic photographic opportunities inside the Estate as well as the surrounding gardens. We will be bringing you more information about Stan Hywet Hall as 3D-Con draws near.

Goodyear (and Akron) is also known for its unique airship business. Goodyear built their first blimp in 1912 and the Navy began commissioning blimps in 1917. In 1929 and 1931 Goodyear's subsidiary Goodyear-Zeppelin Company manufactured two airships for the United States Navy, USS Akron (ZRS-4) and USS Macon (ZRS-5). Goodyear built a number of blimps for the Navy during WWII and later for advertising purposes. Today, there are three Goodyear airships based in the U.S.: Wingfoot Two, based at Wingfoot Lake in Suffield (Akron), Ohio; Wingfoot One at Pompano Beach, Florida; and The Spirit of Innovation (Wingfoot Three) at Carson, California. Goodyear has operated as many as eight at a time since its first commercial airship, the Pilgrim, flew in 1925.

So what does Akron have to offer visitors today? Let's start with the Akron Museum of Art. The Museum itself has survived multiple locations and philosophies over the years. Today, the museum's collection houses over 5,000 objects with a primary focus on contemporary painting, sculpture and 20th century photography. Nearly a dozen special exhibitions each year present some of the most innovative contemporary artists in painting, sculpture, glass, photography, design and video.

Just down the interstate about 22 miles, you will find the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Opened in 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has grown to 118,000 square feet of museum space. The museum stands as a monument to the individuals who have made football America's most popular sport. The 2019 Hall of Fame Enshrinement is scheduled for August 1st through 4th, 2019 if you're interested in attending. However, you don't want to miss any 3D Theater, Trade Fair or 3D-Con event. There is a chance that we will include the Football Hall of Fame on our Monday Tour. Please check our convention website (3D-Con .com) for updates.

Akron is well known to many as the home of the "All-American Soap Box Derby". While technically originating with children in Dayton, the event moved to its' current home in Akron in 1935 to take advantage of the hillier terrain -- the permanent facility, Derby Downs, was built in 1936. Since then, thousands of children from across the nation and other countries have come to race their creations in Akron. The only break in the action was during WWII when Americans focused on the war effort. To this day, children compete for college scholarships and other prizes. The Soap Box Derby has a connection to 3D that some of you may be familiar with. View-Master produced a 3 reel packet featuring the event circa 1970.

If you come into town early or choose to stay late, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) offers regularly scheduled rides and special events throughout the summer months. The CVSR has three primary stops in Independence, Peninsula and Akron Northside. Peninsula is a quaint village of about 600 residents with small artistic boutiques and restaurants. The tracks run through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and alongside much of the Cuyahoga River and Ohio and Erie Canal. For more information about the CVSR please visit: www.cvsr.com for details.

We appreciate that many of our attendees look forward to exciting and new convention destinations every year. It is our goal to offer tours and excursions that are unique to the Akron/Canton area. We plan to be announcing our excursions soon. Trade Fair, 3D Theater, Workshops and all the wonderful things we have grown accustomed to will be fantastic, as always. As our former NSA President always remarked, "This year will be the best convention ever!"

What is the 3D-Con?

The National Stereoscopic Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1974, whose goals are to promote the study, collection and use of stereo photography it has over 1,000 members. 3D-con is traditionally the name of the NSA annual convention, held somewhere different every year in the summertime.

What happens at a convention?

The convention has programming for the collector as well as the photographer. Among the highlights are the trade show, the stereo theater, workshops, tours, and auction, and Special Interest Meetings meetings. In addition, we hold slide and print contests and showings of stereo (3D) photography.

PARALLEL View. Change to Cross View

Thanks to John Bueche for the 2019 logo!

Convention Archives:
Current 3d-Con
2023 Buffalo, NY
2022 Tacoma, WA
2021 Virtual 3D-Con
2020 Virtual 3D-Con
2019 Akron, OH
2018 Cleveland, OH
2017 Irvine, CA
2016 Tulsa, OK
2015 Salt Lake City, UT
2014 Murfreesboro, TN
2013 Traverse City, MI
2012 Costa Mesa, CA
2011 Loveland, CO
2010 Huron, OH
2009 Mesa, AZ
2008 Grand Rapids, MI

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