Dayton, OH
Opened June 2002

As part of the 2003 centennial of the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight, the Wrights’ Ohio hometown has transformed itself into Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. Carillon Historical Park (CHP), a private museum in whose collection are some of the greatest Wright artifacts extant, partnered with the National Park Service to introduce visitors to the engineering genius and under-appreciated scientific accomplishments of Dayton’s favorite sons, and to help their city claim its rightful place at the center of aviation history.

Visitors enter the exhibition through a full-scale replica of one of the Wrights’ bicycle shops and exit through a gallery that presents the first films ever made of the Wrights’ flights in Europe and America amid a display of objects that celebrated their incredible achievement.

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The jewel in the crown of CHP’s collection is the 1905 Wright Flyer III, originally rebuilt and installed in a purpose-built wing of the museum by Orville Wright just before his death in the 1950s. Beautifully restored and brought to life through a special sound-and-light show, the 1905 Flyer, the world’s first practical airplane, and its companion piece, a compelling “object theater” presentation, weave iconic artifacts – the world’s first propeller, the airfoils the Wrights tested in an air tunnel of their own invention, the mechanical table on which they produced their drawings, the sewing machine they used to make the wings for every iteration of their gliders and flyers – into an unforgettable story of inspiration, dedication and ingenuity.