Travel Ohio: The Ohio Aviation Trail – 12 Seconds that Changed the World

Every time I look up and see a jetliner painting lines across the sky, I like to imagine where it might be heading. It’s hard to believe that just over a century ago, traveling by air was considered impossible.

It only took 12 seconds in December of 1903 to change the future of travel forever. Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight might have occurred in North Carolina, but Ohio is the Birthplace of Aviation. Dayton, Ohio to be exact. The Buckeye State is rich in aviation history.

The Ohio Aviation Trail 

The Ohio Aviation Trail includes seventeen public sites across Ohio, most of which are located in Dayton area.

Each site offers a unique look into the evolution of aviation history from man’s first controllable flight to space exploration. Learn more about Ohio’s aviation pioneers incuding the Wright Brothers, Warren Grimes, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and more.

Travel Tip: Create a memory of your adventure! Download a passport and receive stamps at eight sites along the Ohio Aviation Trail to receive a free Wilbear Wright teddy bear.

We have visited most of the sites around Ohio, but decided it was time to go back to the beginning. Heading out on a day trip from Columbus to Dayton, and with a bit of planning, we were able to visit several sites in the area.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Managed by the National Park Service, the Dayton Aviation Heritage Historical Park includes five sites: Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, Carillon Historical Park, Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center, National Aviation Heritage Area, and Paul Laurence Dunbar House.

Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center

16 S Williams St, Dayton, OH 45402

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, serves as the main visitor center and the best place to start a trip along the Ohio Aviation Trail. We arrived as soon as it opened (9 a.m.) and spent about 2 ½  hours exploring the Interpretive Center and the Wright Cycle Shop.

First Floor

Start by viewing the full-size replica of the 1902 Wright Glider, then head to the theater to watch “On Great White Wings”. There are several exhibits about Orville and Wilbur’s childhood and their growing interest in flight, thanks to a gift given from their father upon returning from a business trip.

The inquisitive brothers continued to explore their passion into adulthood. There are a lot of interactive exhibits sharing Orville and Wilbur’s aviation journey, which came as many failures as it did successes. 

Second Floor

During their teenage years, Orville and Wilbur’s first endeavor was a successful printing business. “Wright Bros., Job Printers” was located on the second floor of what is today the Interpretive Center. Many original items are still on display, restored to the same location found in the late 1800s.

Two additional exhibits found here are the story of Paul Laurence Dunbar and a parachute museum. The Aviation Trail Parachute Museum shares the history and development of the free fall parachute, invented at Dayton’s McCook Field after World War I. The museum includes artifacts and several interactive exhibits.

A friend and customer of the Wright Bros. Job Printing, Dunbar was a renowned poet, author, and songwriter. Although we didn’t have time in our schedule to visit, The Paul Laurence Dunbar House is just a short drive (10 min walk) from the Interpretive Center and open for guided tours. it is located at 219 N Paul Laurence Dunbar St, Dayton, OH 45402.

The Wright Cycle Company

Just steps away from the Interpretive Center is the Wright Cycle Company (No. 4), owned by the brothers from 1895 to 1897. This is the shop where they began to seriously study aviation, including building an internal combustion engine.

Access to the bicycle shop is by request only. Ask for a ranger-guided tour at the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center. Although small, the shop offers a nice history of the Wright brothers’ cycling business and how they used concepts learned here to continue their pursuit of flying.

Travel Tip: After a busy morning, grab a bite to eat and relax on the patio at W. Social Tap & Table. Located across the street, this casual food hall offers a variety of food and beverage options.

Original Wright Family Home

7 Hawthorn St, Dayton, OH 45402

Orville and Wilbur’s father was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren, requiring the family to move often. However, they always considered this location “home”. The brothers lived here as children and again into adulthood, where they ran their printing and cycling businesses and studied aviation. Wilbur died here in 1912.

With Orville’s permission, Henry Ford moved the original home to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. Today, the site is preserved with the home’s foundation outlined on the ground. Informational signs are on display and a replica front porch is available for guests to enjoy.

Travel Tip: To view a carbon copy of the Wright home, look across the street for a white house with green shutters.

Carillon Historical Park

1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton, OH 45409

Hawthorn Hill

We continued our day’s journey with a guided tour of Hawthorn Hill, the home of Orville Wright from 1914 through 1948. Although originally design by both brothers, Wilbur tragically died of typhoid fever prior to its completion. Orville, who never married, shared the home with his sister and elderly father.

The house is a Greek Revival southern mansion, with a welcoming and comfortable interior design. Orville spent his time here creating special gadgets, including a circular shower, rainwater collection and water purification systems, and even a toaster that sliced and toasted bread. We especially enjoyed viewing the original items found in his study, including his specialized reading chair.

Orville hosted many guests at Hawthorn Hill. One of the most notable was Charles Lindbergh, just weeks after he completed his pioneering flight from New York to Paris. Lindbergh arrived seeking respite, but word of his arrival spread. Eventually agreeing to acknowledge the crowd gathered outside, Orville and Lindbergh stepped out onto the 2^nd floor balcony for a brief wave to the crowd.

Schedule a Tour

Guided tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays @ 10:00 am and 12:30 pm. Tours last appx 90 minutes and begin/end at Carillon Historical Park. Guests need to check in at the front desk before being transported to Hawthorne Hill by van. Advanced reservations are required.

Wright Brothers National Museum

This museum can be found in the heart of Carillon Historical Park. The museum includes the world’s largest collection of Wright brothers artifacts. A replica of the No. 6 cycle shop, where the experimental airplanes were built from 1899 to 1905, is here also. The original shop was purchased by Henry Ford and relocated to Greenfield Village.

The highlight of the collection is the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, showcased in Wright Hall. The aircraft is surrounded by a mezzanine which allows viewing from almost every direction.

Referred to as “the first pilot’s last project”, Orville was instrumental in returning the plane to its home in Dayton for future generations to enjoy.

More FUN at Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre open air museum dedicated to Dayton’s history. Visit the early settlement village to learn about life in the 1800s and stop by the fully operational 1930s print shop for a guided tour.

If manufacturing and innovation is your thing, head to the Heritage Center to learn about companies such as National Cash Register, McCall’s, Huffy, and others. For families, there is a large kid’s area with a full size indoor carousel, model train, and more.

Transportation enthusiasts will enjoy the James F. Dicke Transportation Center. There are several historical vehicles on display, including the oldest existing American built locomotive, an 1835 B&O #1 John Quincy Adams.

Still have energy to burn? Check out Dayton’s geological past at History on the Hill or walk along the Morain trails for a bird’s eye view of the park. Kids will love the miniature train ride located in the shadows of the 100’ tall Brethen Tower. Climb the 125 steps to the observation deck for a great view. 

Carillon Brewing Company

After spending the better part of the afternoon in the park, we were excited to make our last stop at Carillon Brewing Company. The brewery reflects the 1850’s-era style, including hand milled malt and oak barrels lining the floor in front of an impressive 14-foot-tall furnace.

 The menu is German influenced and includes a list of rather unique starters, various sandwich options, and beverages on tap. We ordered our food and drink at the counter before selecting between indoor or outdoor seating.

Carillon Brewing Co. is only accessible from the park’s main parking lot and remains open until 7:00 p.m.

After Hours

As first-time visitors to Carillon Historical Park, we ended up spending the entire afternoon there. Families with kids could easily spend all day. Since most of the Aviation Trail sites close by 5:00 p.m., we focused the remainder of our day trip on outdoor sites with extended hours.

Travel Tip: If your feet are tired or you want to get your passport stamped at the following sites, extend your trip to include a second day. Adding an additional day will allow more time to explore additional sites along the trail.

Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum

118 Woodland Ave, Dayton, OH 45409

Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum is the burial place of the Wright family, including Orville and Wilbur, along with their parents and siblings. Paul Laurence Dunbar and several other notable figures in Dayton’s history are also buried here. (map)

Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center

2380 Memorial Rd, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

The Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center is the park’s second official visitor center. This location focuses on the development of the 1904-1905 airplane flown at Huffman Prairie Flying Field. There are also exhibits related to Wright brothers flying school and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

This visitor center closed before we arrived, so we spent time in the 27-acre Wright Memorial Park located outside. There is a monument honoring the Wright brothers. Located behind the monument is an overlook with great views, including a glimpse of the Huffman Prairie Flying Field in the distance.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field

Pylon Rd, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

A trip along the Ohio Aviation Trail is not complete without a stop at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field. There’s just something about standing in the exact place, reimagining a defining moment in history.

After their successful first flights at Kitty Hawk, the Wright brothers came home to Dayton. A local farmer offered part of his pasture to continue their pursuit.

From 1904 to 1905, they successfully mastered the ability to turn, bank, and complete figure eights. In October of 1905, the Wright B Flyer III flew for a world record 24 miles in 39 minutes. The Wright brothers dream to develop controlled, powered flight was complete.

Visit the replica hanger and catapult, like those used by Orville and Wilbur. Follow a path through the meadow, where interpretive signs share details about the flights that took place here. The perimeter 0f the field is marked by large white flags.

Travel Tip: Because this site is on USAF property, getting here using Googlemaps can be confusing depending on base closures, etc. Familiarize yourself with local roads in the area or clarify directions at the Interpretive Center beforehand.

More Places to Visit on Ohio Aviation Trail

You can continue this adventure to Dayton and other western Ohio locations with these fascinating sites located along the Ohio Aviation Trail. Each one continues to tell the story that started with a simple toy, a dream, and just 12 seconds.

Wright “B” Flyer 

National Museum Of The United States Air Force 

Wright State University Special Collections and Archives 

WACO Air Museum 

Champaign Aviation Museum 

Historic Grimes Field 

Armstrong Air & Space Museum