About Dayton...

The Dayton area offers many historical attractions and numerous entertainment options. A small sampling of these are highlighted below!

You can't miss the entrance to this historical park – it's marked by a 151-foot tall bell tower with 57 bells that ring every hour. The park itself is on 65 acres of land that house a number of historic buildings, such as Newcom Tavern, a log cabin that is one of the Dayton's oldest buildings. Additional highlights include a one-room schoolhouse, the Wright Flyer III (the Wright brothers' first real operating flying machine), and an exhibit of antique automobiles.

Founded in 1919, the Dayton Art Institute moved to its present location in 1930, an Italian Renaissance style building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Paintings by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, original "Alice in Wonderland" drawings by Lewis Carroll, historic African art, and sculptures by Auguste Rodin are among the 20,000 pieces that make up the remarkable permanent collection. In addition, the museum offers many hugely successful special exhibits. Recent examples include an exhibit of glass sculpture from Dale Chihuly which attracted some 104,000 visitors, and an exhibit of Chinese art and artifacts from the first dynasty which drew in an estimated 111,000 people from all 50 states.

In 1965, the Montgomery County Landmark Committee acknowledged the Oregon District as the oldest neighborhood in Dayton. Today, the refurbished homes that line the streets show structural designs that date between 1830 and 1910. Visitors to the district enjoy seeing the Federal, Victorian, and Queen Anne period homes; there are many charming shops and dining establishments in the area as well.

The world of aviation has made numerous technological advances, from the creation of the first aircraft to the discoveries that have been made in space. This fascinating establishment is the world's oldest and largest military museum. It uses a number of exhibits, displays and factual information to illustrate the intriguing story of flight. Over 300 planes and military missiles are included in the many displays. Guided tours of the site are free of charge, but a fee is required to experience the captivating program in the IMAX theater.

From 1895 to 1897, the famous Wright brothers managed a bicycle and print shop in this historic building. The attraction is particularly special because it's where the first flight tests originated. In addition to seeing antique bicycles, guests can view machinery and other objects that Orville and Wilbur used to produce their ingenious invention.