Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established on this day in 1992. The park is composed of multiple sites around the Dayton area, but the Wright Cycle Company building was at the center of its creation. The building was saved from demolition by Jerry Sharkey and our friends at Aviation Trail Inc. in the early 1980s. Sharkey purchased the building, helped restore it, and donated it to the National Park Service. He and other dedicated individuals successfully campaigned and convinced Congress that a national park dedicated to preserving the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar was imperative.Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP consists of five sites that tell the stories of Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
The five sites of Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP offer you the opportunity to experience the historically refurnished Wright brothers’ printing office, walk through an original Wright brothers’ bicycle shop, see the Wright brothers’ third airplane, follow Wilbur and Orville’s footsteps at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, visit Hawthorn Hill (the Wrights’ mansion), and experience Paul Laurence Dunbar’s last home.
Wright Cycle Company building in the early 1980s, NPS Photo.
Wright Cycle Company building and park sign, NPS Photo / Ryan Qualls.
The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center
Aviation Trail, Inc. Visitor Center and Museum
The Wright Cycle Company building
16 South Williams Street, Dayton, OH 45402
