A three-story brick building with tall green windows and a tall photo mural on the glass wall
The main entrance to the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center NPS / Tom Engberg

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

National Historic Site · Ohio · National Park Service

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is a National Park Service historical park in Dayton, Ohio, established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. The National Park Service notes that through perseverance and dedication, Orville, Wilbur and Paul were able to overcome obstacles in their lives and leave their respective marks on history. The park's topics include African American Heritage, Arts, Poetry and Literature, Aviation, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Transportation, and visitors can join guided tours, watch the park film, browse museum exhibits, and take part in the Junior Ranger Program.

This is a multi-site park rather than a single grounds, so it suits visitors willing to move between a few Dayton-area locations rather than walk one continuous property. It is suited to visitors interested in early flight history and in literature and African American heritage, since its sites split between the Wright brothers' work and Paul Laurence Dunbar's life.

Plan your visit

Trails

2 named routes 26.02 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

  • 0.84 Buckeye Trail
  • 0.71 Hawks Lair

Know before you go

Phone
937-345-0433
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

On the ground

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, on South Williams Street just south of Third Street in Dayton, holds interpretive displays, interactive exhibits, the park's introductory film, and a small gift shop stocked with items related to the Wrights and Dunbar. Nearby, the Wright Cycle Company building, shown in park photos with its "The Wright Cycle Co." sign, and a brick mural depicting the Wrights and Dunbar with an airplane mark the neighborhood where the brothers ran their bicycle shop.

The Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center is located on an active U.S. Air Force base and gives a closer look at the aviation side of the Wright brothers story. On the adjoining grounds, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field preserves the site where the Wrights refined their aircraft, marked today by a stone entrance sign, the Wright Brothers Memorial, a replica 1905 hangar, and a replica catapult system similar to the one they used during their trials. Across town, the Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site preserves the home of the poet for whom the park is named. The Buckeye Trail runs 0.84 miles and Hawks Lair runs 0.71 miles among the walkable ways mapped near the park.

Photos

  • A two-story brick building with tall windows and shutters on them with sign "The Wright Cycle Co."
    NPS / Ryan Qualls
  • A brick wall with artwork of three men and an airplane etched out of the brick.
    NPS / Tom Engberg
  • A one story stone building with a small tower jutting out of the middle and three people walking out
    NPS / Tom Engberg
  • A tall gray stone monolith with a brown bronze plaque affixed to the front with trees in background
    NPS / Tom Engberg
  • The fog lifts as the suns rays peek through the mist revealing a wood-frame hangar and flag pole.
    NPS / Ryan Qualls
  • A long wood and steel rail leading to a pyramid tower structure in the background.
    NPS / Tom Engberg
  • A dirt road between tall trees with a stone sign reading Huffman Prairie Flying Field.
    NPS / Tom Engberg
  • A two-story home with peaked gray roof and two chimneys with green shutters around the windows
    NPS / Tom Engberg

Practical notes

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and closed Monday and Tuesday. The Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The park can be reached via I-70, I-75 or US Route 35, and the main visitor center is located at S. Williams St. and W. Third St. in Dayton. The park's main address is 16 South Williams Street, Dayton, OH 45402, and it can be reached at 937-345-0433.

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Sources: National Park Service, OpenStreetMap contributors, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12