Experience one of Dayton’s most storied neighborhoods in a way few people ever do.
On Saturday, June 20, the Grafton Hill Home, Garden & Historic Auto Show invites guests to spend the day exploring grand historic homes, nationally recognized gardens, architectural landmarks, and vintage automobiles in one of Dayton’s most beautiful and fascinating neighborhoods.
This is far more than a traditional home tour.
Wander through eight private historic homes and gardens, including a garden recognized by the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens. Step inside the historic Dayton Masonic Center and tour the newly restored Commodore Apartments, a 1924 landmark that sat vacant for years before undergoing a remarkable $7.4 million transformation.
Along the way, discover beautifully preserved architecture, hidden gardens, original craftsmanship, and the stories of the families, inventors, and visionaries who helped shape Dayton’s history.
Car enthusiasts will enjoy historic automobiles displayed throughout the neighborhood, ranging from early twentieth-century vehicles to classic muscle cars of the 1960s. The automotive theme is especially fitting in Grafton Hill, where Col. Edward A. Deeds once lived and worked alongside Charles F. Kettering to develop the electric starter, an invention that forever changed the automobile industry.
The experience extends beyond the homes themselves. Stroll tree-lined streets, meet homeowners and neighbors, enjoy food trucks, and explore the cultural landmarks that make Grafton Hill unique, including the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Masonic Center, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Whether you’re passionate about architecture, gardens, historic preservation, design, automobiles, Dayton history, or simply enjoy discovering places you don’t normally get to see, the Grafton Hill Home, Garden & Historic Auto Show offers a rare opportunity to experience all of these in a single afternoon.
Come see the neighborhood where Dayton’s innovators once lived, where historic homes are being lovingly restored, and where a new generation of residents is writing the next chapter of one of the city’s most remarkable neighborhoods.
Tickets are $25 per person. The event is rain or shine and runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. You can purchase tickets at: https://graftonhilltourtickets.eventbrite.com
Some places are best experienced from the inside. Grafton Hill is one of them.
