10-01-2025 11:13pm

Dayton History's National Park Service Sites Remain Open Despite Government Shutdown

Beth Callahan Editor

DAYTON, Ohio—Dayton History, the privately funded nonprofit organization recognized as the official historical organization for Montgomery County, Ohio, is proud to own and operate two units of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

Because Carillon Historical Park receives no ongoing operational federal funding, its Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites remain open and unaffected by the current federal government shutdown.

The following sites continue to welcome visitors from across the Miami Valley and around the world:

The John W. Berry, Sr., Wright Brothers National Museum at Carillon Historical Park, which displays more Wright family artifacts than anywhere in the world, including the 1905 Wright Flyer III—the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark.

Located at 1000 Carillon Boulevard in Dayton, the museum is open 360 days a year: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults (18–59), $12 for seniors (60+), and $10 for youth (3–17). Children under 3 and Dayton History members are admitted free.

Hawthorn Hill, Orville Wright's success mansion, offers visitors with a glimpse into the life and mind of the world's first pilot.

Tours are available year-round on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with shuttle service departing from Carillon Historical Park. Advance prepaid reservations are required. Admission is $16 per person and $12 for Dayton History members.