The park preserves the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, which is the only airplane designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first African American to gain national eminence as a poet, attended the same high school as the Wright brothers.
The Huffman Prairie Flying Field is situated on an active military base, requiring specific access procedures.
The Wright brothers operated five different bicycle shops in Dayton between 1892 and 1908.
The Wright Cycle Company building is one of the few surviving structures where the Wrights conducted their business.
Paul Laurence Dunbar's home contains original furnishings, including the desk where he wrote his final works.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park commemorates the lives and achievements of Wilbur and Orville Wright and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. The park consists of five distinct sites spread across the Dayton area, focusing on the invention of flight and the legacy of the Wright brothers' bicycle shop. The Wright Cycle Company building features restored machinery and artifacts from the brothers' pre-aviation business. The Huffman Prairie Flying Field, located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, serves as the site where the brothers perfected their powered aircraft. The Paul Laurence Dunbar House preserves the home of the internationally acclaimed author who was a childhood friend of the Wrights. Exhibits detail the technological progression from the 1903 Wright Flyer to subsequent aviation developments. The park maintains a partnership with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to provide a comprehensive look at aviation history. Educational programs and historical interpretative displays are maintained by the National Park Service.
The restored exterior of the Wright Cycle Company building on West Third Street.
Visit the main Visitor Center first to obtain a site map, as the park locations are spread across different areas of Dayton.
Check the National Park Service website before heading to Huffman Prairie, as access can occasionally be restricted due to military operations.
Allocate extra time for transit between the various sites, as they are not within walking distance of each other.
Attempting to see all sites in a single hour; the locations are geographically dispersed and require drive time.
Closed on major federal holidays and occasionally on Mondays and Tuesdays depending on the season.
Maintain respectful behavior inside historical homes; photography of sensitive artifacts may be restricted at staff discretion.
