DAYTON,
The Birthplace of Aviation and so much more!

Story Ideas

What’s New?

• Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (4 separate sites) opened two interpretive centers in 2003---Wright/Dunbar Interpretive Center and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center
• 3rd Hangar and missile silo added to world’s largest military aviation museum (FREE—must see!)
• 2005 Excitement!
• Fabled NCR Country Club South Course Hosts US Golf Association Senior Open
• Dayton Art Institute Hosts “Quest For Immortality:  Treasures of Ancient Egypt” exhibit September 2005-Jan 2006
• Downtown Dayton Renaissance
• Dayton Dragons (Class-A affiliate to Cincinnati Reds) and Fifth Third Field going into fifth sold-out season
• RiverScape development—world’s largest river-based fountain, Dayton invention stations
• New Schuster Center for the Performing Arts opened in March 2003
• Webster Street Public Market/National City 2nd Street Market
• Growth of urban housing condos
• GM Buick Rainier Two Year Free Lease Promo for Convention Business

History/Heritage

• Wilbur & Orville Wright grew up, lived and died in Dayton, Ohio.  Conducted first successful powered flight in 1903. Aviation heritage continues with WPAF Base, Aviation Driving Trail, National Park, National Aviation Hall of Fame, Hawthorn Hill and more
• First recognized African American Poet-Laureate Paul Laurence Dunbar lived life in Dayton.  His home/museum is one of four components in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and is also a state memorial
• SunWatch Indian Village—home to Fort Ancient Indians some 800 years ago
• Dayton VA—first VA center in US.
• Carillon Historical Park (mini Greenfield Village) –outdoor park/museum with 24 buildings/sites telling Dayton & Ohio industrial and aviation heritage
• NCR---President Patterson lead first business training, company services such as cafeterias, recreation, health-care etc., coined phrase “you’re fired!”

Fast Facts

• The Dayton MSA population is just under 1 million---951,270
• Dayton International Airport (approx 100 flights daily)
• Centrally located and junction of I-75 and I-70.  50% of US population and 55% of purchasing power in US is within 90-minutes by air/land.

Fun & Quirky

• YOU can take a ride in the Wright Brother’s replica Wright B Flyer!
• Volunteers have logged thousands of hours at USAF Museum
• Caprine Goat Farm and Estates---fresh goat cheese
• World’s largest convention of amateur Ham radio operators--Hamvention
• Take the Chiva bus to the South American cuisine El Meson restaurant!
• Dayton has more inventions per capita than any other city its size
• Business Travel News Corporate Travel Index ranks Dayton as more affordable than 88% of top 100 US cities
• Dayton Taste Sensation—Dayton made Esther Price chocolates combines with Dayton made Mikesell’s Potato Chips---get that salty/sweet taste all at once!
• “You’re Fired” is not a Donald Trump line---belongs to Mr. Patterson, former President of NCR who put employees desks on the lawn and burned them to let them know they had lost their job/were fired!