Aviation Trail


The Aviation Trail is a non-profit organization and heritage trail located in Dayton, Ohio focused on Ohio aviation history.

History

The Aviation Trail was founded by a group of individuals including Jerry Sharkey and Mary Ann Johnson on 3 August 1981. The organization acquired one of the Wright Brothers' bicycle shops located at 22 South Williams Street and the nearby Hoover Block, where they operated a print shop, in 1982. A booklet of 45 sites was published in 1986 and, following restoration, the bicycle shop opened to the public in 1988. After the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established in 1992, the Hoover Block was sold to the National Park Service and opened in 2003 as its visitors center.

Exhibits

The organization also operates the Parachute Museum located on the second floor of the visitor center. The museum acquired two adjacent buildings in 2016 and announced plans for its expansion.

Programs

The Aviation Trail provides a brochure with a list of 16 sites. Visiting 8 of the sites on the trail allows visitors to exchange their brochure for a "Wilbear Wright" teddy bear.

Sites