Other Activities in Dayton

Dayton Aviation Heritage

Home of the Wright brothers and long known as the Birthplace of Aviation, the Dayton region is also recognized as the National Aviation Heritage Area. In November 2004, Congress recognized the Dayton region as the National Aviation Heritage Area, in honor of the region's leadership in our nation's aviation history. The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Aviation Trail Visitor's Center serve as the main visitor center for the Dayton Aviation Heritage.
Visit www.aviationheritagearea.org to learn more.

Packard Museum & Dealership

America's Packard Museum is the world's only restored Packard Dealership operating as a museum, and only full-time museum dedicated exclusively to the Packard Motor Car Company, it's products and philosophies. The museum features over 50 automobiles on display in the restored Art Deco showroom, service department and pavillion. In addition, significant artifacts from the Packard Motorcar Company are on display. Monday – Friday 12 – 5 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 1 – 5 p.m. See www.americaspackardmuseum.org

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is based on the understanding that science is the process through which we come to understand our world, and that play is the way children do science. The Museum of Discoveryis a place where play and learning come together so that visitors of all ages can explore the wonders of the world. The Museum includes a host of places for adventure – - the Oscar Boonshoft Science Central, That Kid's Playce, the Hall of the Universe, a space theatre, EcoTrek, the bird watching Tree House, a Discovery Center, a live animal zoo, and galleries for temporary exhibits – - where reality and imagination mix. Hours of operation Monday – Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 – 5 p.m. Visit them at www.boonshoftmuseum.org

SunWatch Indian Village

Our sister site, SunWatch Indian Village, bring to life the 900 year old Fort Ancient culture. The Mission of Sun Watch Indian Village/Archaeological Park is to protect, preserve and research the cultural remains of the Sun Watch National Historic Landmark archaeological site and to serve as a visitor and educaitonal center for archaeology, Native American culture, and heritage stewardship as they relate to the site. Here visitors of all ages can experience the daily lives of these members of Dayton's first neighborhood. Tuesday- Saturday 9a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 12-5p.m. Details at www.sunwatch.org

Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Historical Park showcases Dayton's rich heritage of creativity, invention, and milestones in transportation that changed the nation and the world. The Park is situated on a beautiful 65-acre campus, which shares the region's history from its founding in 1796 through the important local contributions made during World War II. Visitors learn about these achievements while strolling through the Park's 25 historical buildings and interacting with hundreds of artifacts and exhibits. Among them is the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane and National Historic Landmark, the 1835 B&O (Grasshopper) steam locomotive, and the first automobile self-starter. The Park is home to the Deeds Carillon, one of Dayton's best-known landmarks, and the largest carillon in Ohio. The park is openMonday – Saturday 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday and holidays 12 – 5 p.m. For more information go to www.carillonpark.org.

Dayton Art Institute

The Dayton Art Institute provides a diverse audience with knowledge, pleasure, cultural awareness and sensitivity to the visual environment by collecting, exhibiting and preserving the fine arts; promoting and cultivating aesthetic values in the visual arts; and providing exposure to the arts through a variety of structured and unstructured learning experiences. Visit often to enjoythe diverse permanent collection, world-class special exhibitions, interesting educational programs and unique special events. General admission free except some special exhibitions may have an admission fee. Hours 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (Thursday and Friday till 8 p.m.) See more at www.daytonartinstitute.org.

Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center

The Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center is located at the Wright Memorial on an overlook about 2 miles from the Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Over this 84-acre patch of rough pasture on Wright-Patterson AFB, the Wrights undertook the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of creating a dependable, fully controllable airplane and training themselves to be pilots. They made hundreds of flights here after developing the 1905 Wright Flyer III (the plane they considered to be the first practical airplane). Visitors can see where the Wrights developed the world's first practical airplane as well as replicas of their 1905 hangar and launching catapult.

The Interpretive Center addresses the specific problems Orville and Wilbur Wright encountered while they were perfecting their flying machine, their first demonstration flights in the United States and in Europe, their exhibition team, and their manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio. Open daily 8:30 a.m.– 5 p.m. See details at www.nps.gov

National Aviation Hall of Fame

The National Aviation Hall of Fame is located in the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Hall of Fame honors aviation and space pioneers for their service to country, their ingenuity, their courage, and their vision. The stories of NAHF enshrinees are stories of America...of challenge and failure, of determination and, triumph. Admission and parking are free. Hours of operation are Monday – Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, Easter and all federal holidays.Also see our Museum tour page dedicated to the National Aviation Hall of Fame or visit them at their website at www.nationalaviation.org

Wright "B" Flyer

The Wright "B" Flyer was constructed to honor the accomplishments of the Wright Brothers and promote Dayton, Ohio as the "Leader in Flight". The original Wright B Flyer was designed to provide pilot training and reconnaissance for the US Army Signal Corps from 1911 to 1914. The hangar/museum, with the aircraft, is free of charge and open to the public Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary during normal hours of operations; other times are available by appointment. The Wright "B" Flyer website is at www.wright-b-flyer.org

Orientation rides are available during our normal hours of operation with the purchase of an aircraft ride certificate. This certificate entitles the bearer to an orientation ride that replicates the Wright Brother's original flight pattern.

Wright Cycle Company

The Wright Cycle Company Complex consists of the Wright Cycle Company building, the Wright–Dunbar Interpretive Center, and the new Aviation Trail Visitor's Center and Museum. The Wright Cycle Company building was home to the Wright brothers' bicycle business from 1895 to 1897. Here the Wright brothers began to manufacture their own brand of bicycles, which gave the brothers the mechanical experience and financial resources necessary to began their experiments into powered human flight. The Wright brothers began their first business, printing, when Orville was still in high school and they printed small neighborhood newspapers, notecards, bill heads, and circulars. At the interpretive center, see printing presses from this time period at the exhibit on the brother's printing business. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily. See also www.nps.gov