Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Join us on the second Sunday of each month at the Paul Laurence Dunbar House and Visitor Center for a monthly literary circle. Join the discussion and share your favorite literature, poetry and creative writing projects as well as favorites that you would like to discuss as a reader. Expand your literary adventure and share the love of reading with friends and neighbors.

World Autism Awareness Day is observed every year on April 2nd. Established by the United Nations in 2007, its purpose is to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The day also marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month during which many organizations focus on education and support efforts. Join us for a family night at Dayton Metro Library. 

Born April 16, 1867, Wilbur Wright and his brother Orville achieved the world’s first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903—an achievement that launched the age of aviation.

Before that historic moment, the Wright brothers conducted years of research and experimentation from their Dayton, Ohio bicycle shop. Bicycle mechanics by trade, they designed and tested a series of gliders and conducted groundbreaking wind-tunnel experiments to better understand lift, drag, and aircraft control. Their work led to the development of wing- warping, part of a revolutionary three-axis control system that allowed pilots to steer and balance an aircraft in flight. Continued experimentation resulted in the Wright Flyer III, first successfully flown in 1905 near Dayton, Ohio, and widely considered the world’s first practical airplane capable of sustained, controlled flight. Much of this pioneering work took place in and around Dayton, Ohio, now recognized as the birthplace of aviation.

Throughout 2026 we will be commemorating America’s 250th anniversary and sharing our park’s stories. We invite you to be a part of this commemoration and add to our park’s history by creating a design for our community quilt. Quilting has deeply sewn roots in African American history, transforming cultural tradition into not only a survival tool, but storytelling. Quilts were often comprised of pieces of cloth deemed special by the quilter, and these women passed down their skilled artisanry from generation to generation.

No prior sewing skills necessary, the rangers will take care of that for you! Just bring your creativity and imagination, all materials will be provided. Design a block that illustrates what the 250th means to you. Your design will be sewn into a quilt block and added to the community quilt—preserving a part of your story for future generations. This quilt will be displayed in our visitor center and showcase how we all make up the fabric of our shared history.