November is Aviation History Month and there is no better place to celebrate than the Gem City,
birthplace of the legendary Wright Brothers. Here are a few ways to commemorate the
contributions of America’s many pioneers and the sacrifices they made to fulfill humanity’s
dream of flying.
Visit The National Museum of the US Air Force.
Few museums in the nation do as good a job of telling the story of American aviation as this
edifice, regarded as the world’s largest military aviation museum. Its nineteen acres of indoor
space covers the history of flight from its beginnings to the space age, complete with some of the
most intriguing artifacts in the world. That includes an original plane used by the Wright
Brothers themselves, countless aircraft used in World War II, and even the plane that President
Lyndon Johnson was sworn into office on following the tragic death of President John F.
Kennedy.
Travel To Hawthorn Hill.
Hawthorn Hill was the mansion of Orville Wright and visitors can join the longlist of illustrious
names to pass beneath its Grecian columns. Historic figures such as Henry Ford, Charles
Lindbergh, and Thomas Edison all were hosted this piece of national heritage. Today, it has been
turned into a museum honoring America’s first family of Aviation and stands as a reminder to
Dayton’s storied past. The site is also just five minutes away from the Wright Brothers National
Museum, making the two a perfect combination for a full-day excursion.
Related articles: Dayton Gem: Unmanned Ariel Systems
See The Field Where Flight Was Perfected.
The Huffman Prairie Flying Field is recognized as the place where the Wright Brothers’
experiments were taken to new heights. According to the National Park Service, after flying for
the first time in North Carolina the brothers’ returned to Dayton and chose Huffman Prairie to
continue their research. They would achieve a number of firsts there, including the first turn and
first circle made by a plan mid-flight. The pair would also set world-records and perfect the
design of their aircraft, flying more than 150 times from 1904-1905. By 1910, their pioneering
company would be headquartered there, using the prairie as a testing ground and flight school, as
detailed by the National Park Service on their website.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Dayton this upcoming Aviation History Month, and you
need not do it solely. Just as Orville and Wilbur Wright worked side by side to make history,
families, friends, and even neighbors can honor that past together.
Ismael Mujahid
Intern