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Home of the Wright brothers and long known as the Birthplace of Aviation, the Dayton region now enjoys a new accolade: In November
2004, Congress recognized the Dayton region as the National Aviation Heritage Area, in honor of the region's leadership in our nation's aviation history.
It began with the Wright brothers' invention of the airplane in the back of their cycle shop on Dayton's west side in 1903. They later perfected their flying machine on the
testing grounds of Huffman Prairie Flying Field, just east of Dayton. Huffman is considered sacred ground by aviation enthusiasts the world over; meanwhile, the original
1905 Flyer, widely considered the world's most significant airplane still in existence, is on display at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton.
But the Dayton region's contributions to aviation progress merely began with the Wrights. In later years, other milestones would occur in the Dayton region, such
as the first military airfield, the first emergency parachute jump, WACO's dominance of civilian aircraft production between the World Wars, and much, much more. All told, Dayton
truly is the Global Center of Aviation Heritage. Today, it continues that heritage as one of the most significant regions in the world for aviation advancement. Dayton
is synonymous with aviation.
The new National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) joins 26 other heritage areas in existence around the country. Like the Motor City Heritage Area in Detroit, NAHA is one
of the few that represents more than a bygone era of heritage; it embodies an industry that is alive and well, but which is chock full of great history and stories that
can only be called the "purest slices of Americana."
NAHA consists of 10 historical sites and one member organization. The sites are the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the National Aviation Hall of Fame, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (which includes four sites: Carillon Historical Park, Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial), The Wright B Flyer, Grimes Flying Lab Foundation, Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Historic WACO Field, and the organization member, Aviation Trail, Inc.
NAHA already has much to boast about when it comes to historical sites, artifacts and museums. Visitors will find much to experience, whether you spend a day or a full
week traveling the Heritage Area. Ultimately, each visitor will have the opportunity to learn how the Wright brothers unlocked the millennia-old secrets of human flight,
and see how our nation's aviation heritage unfolded following the Wright brothers' invention.
Many agree that it was the invention that changed the course of human history more than any other. Upon visiting NAHA, you can grasp that significance and come away
with a new appreciation of one of America's greatest stories. Count on it.
Come. Discover. Fly!
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