By Mycah Hill
Traveling the world and the country is fun, but it’s just as enjoyable to explore close to home, too. Travel Local is your guide to outstanding and exciting attractions located within a few hours’ drive.
The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is a must-visit destination for anyone who has marveled at the miracle of flight or dreamed of soaring above the clouds.
Established in 1992, the unique park celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of Wilbur and Orville Wright, who forever changed the course of history. The Wright Cycle Company complex provides a detailed look at the Wright brothers’ early experiment and their transition from bicycles mechanics to aviation pioneers. Visitors can explore one of the original Wright Brothers Cycle shops, which was in operation from 1895 to 1897. At Huffman Prairie Flying Fields, visitors can imagine the triumphs and trails of early aviation, where the Wright brothers mastered the principles of controls and developed the world’s first practical airplane.
The park also honors Paul Laurence Dunbar, a trailblazing African American poet and writer whose work still resonates today. The Paul Laurence Dunbar House showcases his achievements, including his poetry, novels and activism. The house also includes many original furnishings. Visitors can explore Dunbar’s roots in journalism at The Tattler, a newspaper for Dayton’s African American community, the first of its kind.
The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park offers the opportunity to connect with the dreams and achievements that changed the world. Whether you are a lover of aviation and literature, or simply curious about the past, this park offers an unforgettable experience.
