Rate Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
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Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Historical Park
Operating Hours & Seasons
Summer 2017 Operating Hours
The following is the schedule for non-winter operations, typically March through October. Check the park website for exact dates and times of seasonal operations. Summer 2017 hours of operation will begin on Sunday, March 5th, 2017.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Winter 2017 / 2018 Hours
The park operates on seasonal hours with limited days and times for the winter season. These winter seasonal hours of operation are for the period October TBD, 2017 through March TBD, 2018.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $0.00 – No Entrance Fees
There are no entrance fees to Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
Entrance Passes:
- $80.00 – America the Beautiful Pass
The park no longer sells the America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Recreation Lands Pass (as of 01/01/15). However, you can go online to purchase select passes and to order select passes. You can also visit in person William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati or Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe to purchase/obtain one of these passes.
About
Lives of Consequence
Three exceptional men from Dayton, Ohio, Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar, found their creative outlet here through accomplishments and failures, and finally success. However, these men offered the world something far greater, they offered the world hope, and the ability to take a dream and make it a reality.
Directions
From I-75, take U.S. Route 35 West (Exit 52b). Keep right and follow signs for State Route 4/Germantown. Turn slightly right onto S. Williams St. Continue to Fourth Street & turn right and proceed into parking lot on your left. Visitor Center will be directly next to parking lot.
Visitor Centers
Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center
Wilbur and Orville started their careers as printers and operated their second print shop, outside the home, here as Wright & Wright Job Printers. In this location, the Wrights edited and published newspapers for the West Side patrons. The Dayton Tattler, written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, was also printed at this location. Designated as part of the West Third Street National Register Historic District in 1988. Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center
Exhibits focus on the Wright brothers’ development of the world’s first practical airplane at Huffman Prairie in 1904 and 1905, their flying school starting in 1910, and the accomplishments of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Weather
The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 39 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 74 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just above 41″. Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of about 25″.
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Nearby Businesses
