Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Historical Park From the airplane to the cash register to the pop-top, you can't go a day without Dayton™.
(1983)

Carillon Historical Park — a 65-acre open-air museum that houses the Wright Brothers National Museum — tells the stories of how Dayton, Ohio, changed the world. The "Official" page for Dayton History - Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Historical Park inspires generations by connecting them with the unique people, places, and events that changed Dayton and the world.

✈️✨ 24 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH: In June 2002, the John W. Berry, Sr., Wright Brothers Aviation Center was officially dedica...
06/23/2026

✈️✨ 24 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH: In June 2002, the John W. Berry, Sr., Wright Brothers Aviation Center was officially dedicated, bringing new life to Dayton’s greatest story: the Wright brothers and the invention of practical flight! 🛠️🌍

This pivotal project connected Wright Hall — designed in part by Orville Wright himself — with the Cycle Shop, carefully preserving the historic building while adding new interpretive spaces. 🏛️🚲

The expansion provided:
— The addition of the Wilbur and Orville Wright Wings 🛩️
— A complete, immersive redesign of the exhibits 🖼️
— The first-ever public display of dozens of rare Wright artifacts, some carefully preserved in the park's collections for decades!📦

❤️ Help us keep this history alive! As a privately funded nonprofit, Carillon Historical Park relies on people like you. By becoming a member, you directly support the preservation of our region's legacy and help inspire the next generation of innovators and dreamers. ✨

👇 Join our member family today:
🔗 daytonhistory.org/support/membership-levels/

📖 A Living Landmark: The Story of Carillon Historical Park — a limited-edition, illustrated, hardbound, 222-page coffee table book — was referenced to create this post. Copies are available for $35 in the Carillon Park Museum Store.

📸 Images from A Living Landmark:
1️⃣ The Wilbur Wright Wing under construction in 1997.
2️⃣ The groundbreaking ceremony, which included members of the Berry family (far left), park champion Tony Huffman, former Executive Director Mary Mathews (center), and Wick Wright, the brothers' grandnephew (far right).
3️⃣ Former Executive Director Mary Mathews escorts then-Ohio Governor Bob Taft on a special tour of the John W. Berry, Sr., Wright Brothers Aviation Center.

06/22/2026

💨 NEED TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM? 💨

Carillon Park Rail Festival is this Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.!

🚆 Explore historic trains, enjoy family-friendly fun and celebrate Dayton’s rich heritage.

🎟️ Regular admission fees apply.
⭐ Free for Dayton History members.

Become a member today and help preserve Dayton’s world-changing history for the children of the future! ❤️ 👉 daytonhistory.org

👴 Happy Father's Day from Carillon Historical Park! ✈️ Bishop Milton Wright was more than the father of the Wright broth...
06/21/2026

👴 Happy Father's Day from Carillon Historical Park!

✈️ Bishop Milton Wright was more than the father of the Wright brothers and their five siblings: Reuchlin, Lorin, Otis & Ida (twins that died shortly after birth), and Katharine. He helped shape the mindset behind the brothers’ achievements.

📚 Born in Indiana in 1828, Milton devoted his life to the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He became an ordained minister and later editor of the Religious Telescope, the church’s official publication. His work brought the Wright family to Dayton, where Wilbur and Orville lived and worked and played and died.

🧠 As a father, Milton actively encouraged curiosity and learning. He wrote descriptive letters from his travels to spark his children’s imagination and brought home educational toys, including Alphonse Pénaud's flying bat — a small flying helicopter toy — that fascinated a young Wilbur and Orville and helped nurture their early interest in flight.

⚖️ A man of strong conviction, Milton later served as a bishop and was known for his principled leadership. Even as his sons pursued powered flight, he supported their work with one simple request: that they not fly together.

🤝 Become a member! Preserve Dayton's world-changing history for future generations! 👉 daytonhistory.org

06/20/2026

🚂 RAIL FEST IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! 🚂

Carillon Park Rail Festival returns Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.!

🚆 Explore historic trains, enjoy family-friendly fun and celebrate Dayton’s rich heritage.

🎟️ Regular admission fees apply.
⭐ Free for Dayton History members.

Become a member today and help preserve Dayton’s world-changing history for the children of the future! ❤️ 👉 daytonhistory.org

✈️ 📺 CBS Sunday Morning featured a piece of Wright Flyer fabric donated by Carillon Historical Park to America’s Time Ca...
06/18/2026

✈️ 📺 CBS Sunday Morning featured a piece of Wright Flyer fabric donated by Carillon Historical Park to America’s Time Capsule! You can read more about this story in the Dayton Daily News! 📰 https://tinyurl.com/3p59ad8d

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary 🇺🇸, Carillon Historical Park contributed a fragment of original Wright Flyer fabric to America’s Time Capsule. The artifact will be interred at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, and preserved until its planned opening on July 4, 2276, the nation’s 500th anniversary. Alongside the fabric, the park also submitted a letter featuring a quotation from Orville Wright.

Want to help preserve and share stories like this for generations to come? Become a member of Carillon Historical Park and support the work that keeps Dayton’s — and America’s — history alive. 💙 daytonhistory.org.

📸 President & CEO Brady Kress receiving a piece of Wright Flyer fabric from the brothers' grand-niece and nephew, Amanda Wright Lane and Stephen Wright.

🌟 This year, the Dayton Region Walk of Fame honored two community standouts with connections to Carillon Historical Park...
06/18/2026

🌟 This year, the Dayton Region Walk of Fame honored two community standouts with connections to Carillon Historical Park: Mary Mathews, the museum's former executive director, and Gary Sandy, best known for his role as Andy Travis on the classic CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. 🎬 Sandy also co-starred in A Very Carillon Christmas alongside Brady Kress, the park's president and CEO. 🎄🔔

Learn more about Mathews and Sandy here: wdbd.org/honorees

🏛️ Preserve the Dayton region's world-changing history for future generations. Become a member today! ❤️ daytonhistory.org

🌿✨ On June 17, 2003 — 23 years ago today — the Marie Aull Tribute Sculpture and Garden was dedicated at Carillon Histori...
06/17/2026

🌿✨ On June 17, 2003 — 23 years ago today — the Marie Aull Tribute Sculpture and Garden was dedicated at Carillon Historical Park.

Marie Aull, known as “the godmother of the Miami Valley environmental movement,” lived from 1897 to 2002, her 105 years touching three centuries. 🌎 In 1957, she made history by establishing the Midwest’s first National Audubon Society Nature Center.

🌱 The Garden Club of Dayton provided the major funding for the garden and continues to care for this special space. At the center stands a life-size sculpture of Marie Aull, surrounded by many of her favorite native plants, including celandine, poppies, trillium, and mertensia. 🌸

Founded in 1922 and affiliated with the Garden Club of America, the Garden Club of Dayton has a long tradition of promoting sound horticultural practices, historic preservation, and conservation. In 1927, Marie Aull joined the club and inspired generations of members through her passion, dedication, and love of nature. 🌳

Today, Marie Aull’s legacy continues to bloom. 💚 Visit Carillon Historical Park and experience the stories, places, and people who changed Dayton and the world.

Become a Dayton History member and help preserve these inspiring stories for generations to come. 🌟 Learn more at DaytonHistory.org.

06/16/2026

🚞 ALL ABOARD! 🛤️

Carillon Park Rail Festival returns Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.!

🚆 Explore historic trains, enjoy family-friendly fun and celebrate Dayton’s rich heritage.

🎟️ Regular admission fees apply.
⭐ Free for Dayton History members.

Become a member today and help preserve Dayton’s world-changing history for the children of the future! ❤️ 👉 daytonhistory.org

06/15/2026

🛤️ ALL ABOARD! 🛤️

Carillon Park Rail Festival returns Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.!

🚆 Explore historic trains, enjoy family-friendly fun and celebrate Dayton’s rich heritage.

🎟️ Regular admission fees apply.
⭐ Free for Dayton History members.

Become a member today and help preserve Dayton’s world-changing history for the children of the future! ❤️ 👉 daytonhistory.org

06/15/2026

Beloved annual event returns with train rides, model displays, live steam engines, the Carillon Park Concert Band, and more.

Address

1000 Carillon Boulevard
Dayton, OH
45409

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(937) 293-2841

Website

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