Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre open-air history museum
that serves as the main campus for Dayton History.
We share the amazing stories of how Dayton changed the world!

Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
937-293-2841

1000 Carillon Boulevard
Dayton, Ohio 45409

General Field Trip Information


General Field Trip Information

Directions and Bus Parking

Carillon Historical Park
1000 Carillon Blvd.
Dayton, Ohio 45409
Tel: (937) 293-2841   Map

Once you arrive at the park, buses should drive to the drop-off area in front of the Kettering Family Education Center. School buses can fit under the covered drop-off area. For your reference, the overhang is 12’6” tall.

Buses should then proceed along the lane and then turn right onto the main driveway. Follow this path around the perimeter of the park to a lot where buses can turn around. Once buses have turned around, a Bus Parking Lane is on the right side of the main driveway (toward the Carillon). Buses are then facing the appropriate direction for pick-up at the Kettering Family Education Center.

Admission Rates

All school groups receive the same special admission rates: $5 per child and $7 per adult. Additional fees apply to ride the carousel, participate in an educational workshop, and receive museum store goody bags. Advanced reservations are required to receive these admission rates.

School Check-In

All groups must check-in at the Kettering Family Education Center admission desk. Payment is due upon arrival. You may use cash, check, major credit cards, invoice or purchase order to pay for your visit.

  • If paying by purchase order or invoice, we will invoice you after your visit to ensure that you are paying for the amount of students that come the day of your visit.
  • If paying with cash, we ask that you collect your student and chaperone admission fees ahead of time and pay with the largest bills possible.

When payment is handled, teachers will receive:

  • A guide map of Carillon Historical Park for each class with a suggested starting location.
  • A 4-D “Build for Tomorrow” Theater ticket time.
  • Educational Program Ticket with locations, times, and facilitator names for programs (when applicable).
  • Evaluation Form

When Check-In is completed, you will be directed by a staff member to your suggested starting location.

Class Touring

Please stay together as a class unless otherwise directed. Breaking into small groups impedes the traffic flow from one exhibit building into the next. Teachers are required to stay with their classes and are essential in ensuring good behavior from students.

Please encourage chaperones to be actively involved in the supervision of students. We need their (and your) active participation to ensure students are acting in a respectful and safe manner and to enhance student learning. Chaperones and teachers can also encourage students to ask questions of the interpreters in the exhibit buildings

Weather

Carillon Historical Park operates in all kinds of weather, so everyone should dress weather-appropriately. We highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes. In the event of a severe weather warning, staff will advise guests on where to seek shelter.

Lunch

We will provide lunch bins for groups upon their arrival, or you can bring your own. If you have your own lunch bins, please be sure to label your school and teachers’ names on each bin. Lunches will be stored in the Kettering Family Education Center and can be eaten at your leisure at our outdoor picnic pavilion or on the green space in the center of the park. In inclement weather, we have indoor lunch locations in the Kettering Family Education Center.

Emergencies

Carillon Historical Park staff and volunteers can communicate via two-way radio or phone. If there is a need for first-aid or if there is a lost child, please notify Carillon Historical Park staff.

Lost and Found

If you lose a personal belonging, please check with the Guest Services desk in the Kettering Family Education Center.

Museum Store

Carillon Historical Park’s Museum Store contains hundreds of exciting items that may be of interest to you or your students, such as books, toys, candy, models, clothing, and magnets. One class at a time is permitted in the store. We ask that one adult accompanies every ten students in the store. Also, if you plan to visit, please explain to students about sales tax.

For classes that do not have time to sufficiently shop, please considering purchasing our goody bags or teacher bags.

Plan Your Trip Today!

Please contact the Education Scheduling Desk at (937) 293-2841 Ext. 127 or education1@daytonhistory.org with questions or if you would like more information!

Band Organ Rally


Hours of Event
Postponed to 2022

Admission
$14 per adult (ages 18-59)
$12 per senior
$10 per child (3 –17)
FREE to Children age 2 and under
FREE to Dayton History Members

Location
1000 Carillon Boulevard
Dayton, OH 45409

Parking
FREE Parking Available at Carillon Park

For More Information

(937) 293-2841

Band Organ Rally

Calling all fans of mechanical music! We have a treat for you! The Mid-America Chapter of the Musical Box Society International (MBSI), in conjunction with the Carousel Organ Association of American (COAA) are holding their 43rd Annual Band Organ Rally this year at Carillon Historical Park on July 24 and 25. If you are like most people, you may now be wondering, “What is a band organ rally?”

A band organ rally is a gathering of several dozen antique and newly constructed self-playing mechanical pipe organs. Sizes range from small, hand-cranked street organs with 20 pipes about the size of a breadbox, to huge fairground organs from Germany and the Netherlands with several hundred pipes each.

Members of MBSI and COAA, the individuals most involved in the preservation of band organs, believe that the true enjoyment of owning such rare and special machines derives from being able to share the “happiest music on Earth” with others. Organ owners from numerous states will descend on Carillon Park to share their music with members of the general public and with you, our loyal Dayton History members!

Park Map


1. Deeds Carillon

At 151-feet, with 57 bells, the Deeds Carillon was a gift of founders Colonel Edward A. and Edith Walton Deeds. One of Dayton’s best-known landmarks, Deeds Carillon plays daily automated musical selections. The Park’s internationally acclaimed carillonneur also plays original concerts throughout the year.

2. KETTERING FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER

The first stop for all admissions and information. It houses exhibits, the Iams Education Room, administrative offices, and the Museum Store.

3. HERITAGE CENTER OF DAYTON MANUFACTURING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Featuring an NCR cash register room with 90 Dayton-made machines, the Build for Tomorrow animatronic theater, the original Deeds Barn, dozens of exhibits featuring Dayton factories and companies, and the Carousel of Dayton Innovation, a full-scale, hand carved carousel featuring one-of-a-kind characters such as Orville Wright’s dog, a Dayton soap box derby car, and a soda can with the Dayton-made pop top.

4. CULP’S CAFÉ

Reminiscent of Culp’s Cafeteria located in downtown Dayton in the 1930s and 1940s, serves soups, sandwiches, ice cream and sodas.

5. WINSUPPLY CENTER OF LEADERSHIP

Features the beautiful Eichelberger Pavilion special event space, as well as meeting rooms and both the Schear Family Gallery and the Roger Glass Gallery exhibit spaces.

6. CARILLON BREWING COMPANY

The nation’s only fully operational 1850s style brewery and full-service restaurant, immerses guests in the sights, sounds and smells of the mid-19th century brewing process.

7. Dixon & Shafor Junction

Dixon & Shafor Junction is an original, 1894 railway station. Formerly known as Bowling Green Depot, it served as many as 14 freight and passenger trains daily. The Carillon Park Railroad’s loading platform is next to this building.

8. NEWCOM TAVERN (1796)

The oldest building in Dayton, built by Robert Edgar for Colonel George Newcom. The hand-hewn log house originally stood at Main Street and Water Street (now Monument Avenue). Outside the Tavern stands a sundial originally located in Van Cleve Park and dedicated for Dayton’s Centennial celebration in 1896. The well is representative of the wells used by early settlers to obtain drinking water. Early histories state that Col. Newcom, as sheriff, would sometimes incarcerate prisoners in a dry well.

9. LOCUST GROVE SCHOOL NO. 12 (1896)

A one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Possum and Bird Roads outside of Springfield, Ohio from 1896 until 1929. One teacher instructed students in grades one through eight.

10. WATERVLIET SHAKER BUILDING (ca. 1832)

The final surviving remnant of the Watervliet Shaker community, which was located in eastern Montgomery and western Greene counties from 1806 until 1900. At its height, the utopian religious community was home to over 100 individuals. Research indicates that this building was used as a printing office for Richard McNemar, a leading Shaker author, but today it interprets the overall Dayton Shaker story.

11. Horse Barn No. 17 (1901)

Horse Barn No. 17 (1901) was originally constructed as a timber frame bank barn housing 70 horse stalls. During 2019 and 2020, the building was carefully disassembled and rebuilt at the Park. Barn 17 shares the 160 years of history of the old Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Stories about Dayton’s agricultural past, famous visitors to the fairgrounds, and historic events held there are exhibited.

12. THE WHITNEY PAVILION

A picnic shelter and gift of philanthropists Lee and Betsy Whitney in 2003 in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.

13. HETZEL SUMMER KITCHEN (1817)

The temporary home for early Van Buren Township resident, Peter Hetzel, and his family while their permanent home was being constructed. The building then served as a summer kitchen for many years.

14. WILLIAM MORRIS HOUSE (ca. 1815)

Built of locally quarried limestone served as a home for Revolutionary War veteran, William Morris, and his family. The house was located on Social Row Road in the farmlands of southern Montgomery County’s Washington Township.

15. NEWCOM HOUSE (ca. 1841)

Built in the Greek Revival style, was constructed on land owned by Dayton settler, George Newcom. Although there is no record of any Newcom family members ever living in the building, the house interprets Dayton life in the 1840s. The hitching post in front of the house was used to tie up horses that pulled wagons and carriages. It was originally located on the Volkenand Farm in the Walnut Hills area of Dayton. The carriage step was used to climb aboard high carriages. Its original location is unknown.

16. DEEDS BARN REPLICA

Housing exhibits about the lives and work of acclaimed inventors, Charles F. Kettering and Colonel Edward A. Deeds. The original Deeds Barn, now located in the Park’s Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship, was located behind the Deeds home at 319 Central Avenue in Dayton. Inside the barn, Deeds, Kettering and a group of friends invented the electric automobile ignition, and later, the electric automobile self-starter.

17. OLD RIVER PARK SWIMMING POOL LIGHT TOWER

A distinctive feature of one of the largest swimming pools in the Midwest, located at NCR’s employee recreation facility, Old River Park. Old River was the brainchild of Colonel Edward A. Deeds and was designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers landscape architects.

18. OLD RIVER PARK SHelters (1939

Old River Park Shelters (1939) were used by NCR employees, their families and friends for 70 years. They were reconstructed here in 2021 and 2022.

19. DEEDS PLAZA

20. SUGAR CAMP/WAVES CABIN 22 (1934)

Formerly located on the grounds of The National Cash Register Company’s Sugar Camp training facility. This cabin was one of 60 used to house U.S. Navy WAVES as they worked on a classified code-breaking project during World War II.

21. CORLISS ENGINE BUILDING

Houses the Corliss Engine that provided the National Cash Register Company electrical power and steam heat from 1902 to 1948.

22. GEM CITY LETTERPRESS

GEM CITY LETTERPRESS is a fully operational print shop of the 1930s era, when Dayton was home to 77 printing companies.

23. SUN OIL STATION (1924)

Formerly located at the intersection of Brown and Warren Streets in Dayton. The pumps in front of the station feature clear glass cylinders, which attendants filled with gasoline from an underground tank and then let them drain into customers’ cars.

24. DAYTON SALES

A representative auto sales building housing early Dayton-made automobiles. Among them are a 1908 Stoddard-Dayton, 1910 Speedwell, and 1910 Courier.

25. THE GREAT 1913 FLOOD EXHIBIT BUILDING

Houses stories and artifacts about Dayton’s worst natural disaster, including the National Cash Register locomotive, “Rubicon,” which operated as a switch engine at the factory from 1909 to 1961.

26. MILLER SHELTER

Dedicated to 40-year Park employee, Lloyd Miller.

27. CARILLON PARK RAIL AND STEAM SOCIETY

Operates scale trains on scheduled Saturdays and during special events.

28. DAYTON CYCLERY

Houses the Park’s collection of rare and antique bicycles with a special emphasis on the Miami Valley’s role in bicycle evolution.

29. JAMES F. DICKE FAMILY TRANSPORTATION CENTER

Houses most of the Park’s historic public transportation collection: the 1835 John Quincy Adams, 1903 Summer Trolley, 1904 Kuhlman Interurban, 1923 B & O Caboose, 1903 Barney and Smith Railroad Car, 1949 Marmon-Herrington Trolley Bus and RTA Supervisor’s Booth.

30. BRETHEN TOWER

A 100-foot tall climbing tower supporting the Callahan Building Clock. Built in 1919, the clock was a distinctive landmark in downtown Dayton atop the Callahan Building, later known as the Gem Savings Building, at the corner of Third and Main Streets. The tower features an observation platform allowing views of the area surrounding Carillon Park.

31. MORRISON IRON BRIDGE (1881)

Once spanned Tom’s Run on Gratis Road near Farmersville, Ohio. David Morrison, founder of the Columbia Bridge Works of Dayton, built it.

32. CANAL SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE (1895)

Used for collecting canal fees, located between Second and Third Streets in downtown Dayton.

33. MIAMI & ERIE CANAL LOCK NO. 17 (ca. 1833)

Located in the original canal bed dug between 1825 and 1829 which runs through Carillon Park. The lock was originally located six miles north of Dayton.

34. SMITH COVERED BRIDGE (1870)

Built by Robert W. Smith and spanned Little Sugar Creek on Feedwire Road in Greene County.

35. JOHN W. BERRY, SR. WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MUSEUM

The museum, including the Wright Cycle Company building and Wright Hall, tells the world changing story of the Wright brothers and showcases their original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane and a National Historic Landmark. The Museum is a privately owned and operated unit of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

36. GRISTMILL

Representative of a gristmill with an operating grindstone and grinding mechanism. It also serves as a residence for a Park caretaker.

37. GLACIAL SLIDE & MORAINE EXPLORATION AREA

Allows the young and young at heart to travel down tube slides and try their hands at working in a simulated archaeological dig site.

38. MARIE AULL SCULPTURE AND GARDEN

Dedicated in 2003, pays tribute to nationally recognized conservator Marie Sturwold Aull (1897-2002) who founded Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm north of Dayton in 1957.

39. HISTORY ON THE HILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Shares stories about the history of the land that is today Carillon Historical Park, including its geological history, its use by the prehistoric Hopewell people, and it being the location of a segment of the Miami and Erie Canal.

40. YECK PLAZA

Serves as both the gateway to the Park’s History on the Hill trail system and as an outdoor programming area for educational workshops.

41. PATTERSON ADIRONDACK SHELTER (1906)

Originally constructed on NCR founder John H. Patterson’s estate, The Far Hills, in Oakwood, Ohio. Patterson, a frequent visitor to upstate New York, was particularly fond of Adirondack architecture. He used this shelter as the prototype for many similar structures he later built in Hills and Dales Park, a beautiful green space he gifted to the people of Dayton in 1907.

42. OCTAGONAL SHELTER

Built in the style of picnic shelters originally located at NCR’s Old River Park.

43. WATCHTOWER (1907)

served Dayton as a railroad watchtower from 1907 to 1976 near the intersection of West Fifth and Broadway Streets. An attendant manually operated railroad crossing gates from inside the tower.

44. OASIS RESTROOMS

 

45. CARILLON CAFE

Open Seasonally, serving light fare and snacks.

Home School Day


Home School Day

Held in April and September, Home School Day is a wonderful way for home-schooled students to enjoy hands-on educational activities and programs. With a 4-D animatronic theatre, 30 exhibit buildings, costumed historical interpreters, object theatre presentations at the Wright Brothers National Museum, carousel rides, and more, Home School Day is fun for the whole family!

Ticket includes:
• Access to all Carillon Historical Park exhibits
• Gardening
• Rug Hooking
• Bread Baking and Brewery Talk
• Historic Printing Demonstrations

$10 per Child | $14 per Adult | Free to Dayton History Members

Please contact the Education Scheduling Desk at (937) 293-2841 Ext. 127 or education1@daytonhistory.org for more information.

2024 Home School Days

April 11
September 5

2025 Home School Days

April 10
September 4

A Carillon Christmas


A Carillon Christmas

A Carillon Christmas

Days left of A Carillon Christmas

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Event Details
November 26 – December 30, 2024*
Sunday – Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

at Carillon Historical Park

* Closed Thanksgiving Day,
Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

Admission
$14 per adult (ages 18-59)
$12 per senior (ages 60+)
$10 per child (ages 3-17)
Free to children 2 and under
FREE to Dayton History Members!

Purchase Tickets Become a Member

Dayton’s newest holiday tradition!

Join us for A Carillon Christmas to see Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus transformed into a winter wonderland of sparkle, magic, and holiday cheer!

Featuring:

The Carillon Tree of Light
Santa Claus
The Carillon Park Railroad
Gem City Letterpress
Letters to Santa
Deeds Carillon Christmas Concerts
Carillon Christmas Café
Drinks at Culp’s Café
Roundhouse Café in the Transportation Center
The Tailor of Gloucester Puppet Show
Model Train Displays
Midnight Express Miniature Train Rides
Museum Store Shopping
Walk through our beautiful campus, filled with thousands of lights
Morris and Hetzel Bakery
Gristmill Christmas Village and Peppermint Mill
Carillon Brewing Co.
… and more!

Thank you to our partners and sponsors!

Holiday Activities

Holiday Activities


Holiday Activities

Join us for these special programs and watch as Carillon Park comes alive with your favorite holiday traditions! All locations have been marked with a holiday icon on your map and they are open between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.

Visit with Santa
Through Dec. 23rd
Did you know that Dayton was the toy manufacturing capital of the United States in the 1920s? Visit Santa in the Heritage Center, in front of the Dr. Richard and Dorothy Cummings Collection of Dayton-made toys. Bring your own camera to take a complimentary picture.

Letters to Santa
Write a letter to Santa in Newcom Tavern (Est. 1796), Dayton’s oldest standing structure. It contains the original Van Cleve cabinet which served as Dayton’s first post office.

Wright Brothers National Museum
John W. Berry, Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum, including Wright Cycle Company and Wright Hall, tells the world-changing story of the Wright brothers and showcases their original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane and a National Historic Landmark. The Museum is a privately owned and operated unit of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

Chestnuts & Gingerbread at Morris & Hetzel Bakery
Learn about historic hearth cooking with our costumed interpreters. Purchase a homemade gingerbread cookie and a cone of roasted chestnuts in the Morris & Hetzel Bakery.

A Visit From St. Nicholas
The Night Before Christmas
Enjoy a special presentation of this classic Christmas poem featuring hand-painted glass slides produced by NCR. These slides were accompanied by a special reading of A Visit From St. Nicholas during children’s Christmas programs NCR put on from 1916 until the early 1930s. A booklet featuring the poem and slides can be purchased in the Museum Store.

The Rike-Kumler Company
Toy Parade & Christmas Cartoons
Beginning in the 1920s through 1942, the Rike-Kumler Company held a Toy Parade on Thanksgiving Day to ring in the start of the Christmas season. Experience the spectacle through actual films of the parades taken in the 1930s and 1940s. You can also watch excerpts of popular Christmas cartoons from that time.

The Tailor of Gloucester, Puppet Show
Every half hour, starting at 5:30pm
Enjoy a Christmas-themed Puppet Show based on The Tailor of Gloucester (1903) by Beatrix Potter. This tale, from the author of Peter Rabbit, was published only a few months prior to December 17, 1903, when the Wright brothers achieved First Flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Carousel of Dayton Innovation
Take a ride on our beautiful, one-of-a-kind carousel, built right here in Ohio in 2011. From planes to trains to automobiles and beyond, each hand-carved figure represents a unique aspect of Dayton’s colorful past. (Cost: $1 per person, per ride; any riders under 42” tall need to be accompanied by an adult)

Gem City Letterpress
Visit the nation’s only complete 1930s letterpress job shop operating in a museum! The equipment in this shop was typical during an era when Dayton was home to 77 printing companies.

Carillon Park Railroad
5:00pm to 9:00pm*
Ticketing Location: Dixon & Shafor Junction
Take a ride on a magical train through a winter wonderland of lights reminiscent of a trip to the North Pole.(Cost: $1 per person, per ride)
*Must be in line one hour before closing

The Midnight Express Train Rides
6:00pm to 9:00pm*
Ticketing Location: Transportation Center
Enjoy a narrated, mile-long ride on a replica of one of the first trains to arrive in Dayton. (Cost: $5 per person, per ride)
*Must be in line one hour before closing

Holiday Shopping
Whether you are looking for something Dayton-related or holiday themed, you’ve come to the right place for Christmas shopping! Visit our Museum Store locations in the Kettering Family Education Center and Gem City Letterpress to find the perfect gift!

Holiday Treats & Drinks
Enjoy a light meal, delicious snacks, holiday treats, beverages and more!
Seating is available throughout the park.

Locations: Carillon Christmas Café, Roundhouse Café, the Peppermint Mill, Culp’s Café, and Carillon Brewing Company.

Food and Drink

Food and Drink

Specialty Christmas concessions are available daily at different locations throughout Carillon Park during A Carillon Christmas, November 23rd through December 30th. Of course, the Carillon Brewing Co. is serving food every day from 11:00am to 9:00pm all year long!

Culp's Christmas Café

Carillon Christmas Café

Enjoy Hot Dogs, French fries, Pretzels, Ice Cream, S’mores, Hot Chocolate, & More! Counter service and outdoor seating available!
View Mobile Menu

Roundhouse Café

Roundhouse Café

Fresh Popcorn, Hot Cocoa, & More! Grab a snack and drink to take with you as you walk through the park.
View Mobile Menu

Morris House

Morris House

Gingerbread Cookies, Hot Cider, & Hot Fresh Chestnuts! All prepared before your eyes using historic cooking techniques!

Peppermint Mill

Peppermint Mill

Frosted Almonds, Pretzels, Mulled Wine, S’mores, Hot Cocoa, & More! Grab a snack and drink to take with you as you walk through the park.
View Mobile Menu

Culp's Café

Culp’s Café

Tuesday through Sunday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
5:00pm – 8:00pm (beverages and ice cream only)
To learn more about Culp’s Café and to see our full menu, please visit www.culpscafe.org.

Carillon Brewing Co.

Carillon Brewing Co.

Wednesday through Sunday: 11:00am – 9:00pm
Looking for a full-service dinner? Visit the Carillon Brewing Co., located right outside the main entrance to Carillon Historical Park. To learn more about our house brewed beers and to see our full menu, please visit www.carillonbrewingco.org.

Tips and FAQs

Tips and FAQs

Are masks required?

No, masks are not required at this time. However, we do encourage the use of masks indoors.

Where is the Kettering Family Education Center?

The Kettering Family Education Center is the gateway to Carillon Historical Park. The main entry is located underneath a portico. A flagpole is located directly in front of it.

What should I wear?

Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre campus with indoor and outdoor exhibits. Keep an eye on the weather to plan your wardrobe!

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

During A Carillon Christmas, carry-in coolers, food items, or drinks are not permitted. We will have a variety of holiday treats available at our vending stations or you can dine at the Carillon Brewing Co.!

Can I come to the Park before 5:00pm?

Yes! Carillon Historical Park will remain open for our regular day-time hours beginning at 9:30am Monday through Saturday and 12:00pm on Sunday. You are welcome to enjoy the whole day at the Park, including A Carillon Christmas, until 9pm Sunday through Thursday and 10pm on Friday and Saturday. You will not need to leave and re-enter the park due to A Carillon Christmas.

Admission prices for A Carillon Christmas are the same as our regular admission.

Where can I park? How much does it cost?

FREE parking is available on the Carillon Historical Park campus.

When do lights and holiday programming start?

All A Carillon Christmas programming will begin at 5:00pm.

Are pets allowed?

Pets are not allowed at Carillon Historical Park. If you have a service animal, please make sure they are wearing proper identification.

Are wheelchairs or electric scooters available?

A small number of wheelchairs are available to guests to check out from our admission desk. We do not offer electric scooters.

Which night(s) have the most activities?

All programs will remain consistent throughout the entire month. You will be able to participate in the same holiday activities every day of the week.

Do you take credit and debit cards?

Several of our food and activity locations require cash. There is an ATM located in the lobby of the Kettering Family Education Center, but it is advised that you bring some cash for food and activity purchases. We do accept credit/debit cards in the Museum Store for the purchase of admissions, memberships, and all store merchandise, and at Carillon Christmas Café for food purchases.

The History of Dayton History


1940

Educational & Musical Arts Inc. was created by Edith Deeds and Colonel Deeds to build Deeds Carillon.

 

1942

Construction of Deeds Carillon was completed during a two-year period. Edith Walton Deeds oversaw the entire project from start-to-finish. At the time of completion, Deeds Carillon was one of only six free-standing carillon towers in the United States. It originally consisted of a 151.5 foot tower and 32 bells (23 active, 9 silent).

On Easter Sunday, April 5, an Easter Sunrise Service was held at Deeds Carillon, a tradition that continues today. The official dedication and first regularly-scheduled concert were held on August 23. Robert Kline, Educational Director for The National Cash Register Company, served as carillonneur from 1942 – 1986.

 

1950

On June 3, Carillon Park’s museum exhibits opened to the general public for the first time. The Park was developed by the Miami Conservancy District, with assistance from the National Cash Register Company, the City of Dayton, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Initial exhibits included:

  • Wright Hall—housing the 1905 Wright Flyer III
  • Wagon Shed—housing the 1834 Conestoga wagon and 1870 Concord stagecoach
  • Grist Mill with working waterwheel
  • South Station—housing the 1835 John Quincy Adams locomotive
  • Smith Covered Bridge
  • Miami and Erie Canal Lock #17
  • Corliss Engine Building
  • Deeds Barn replica

 

1962

The Fireless Locomotive Building, housing the Rubicon locomotive, was dedicated.

 

1965

In 1964, Newcom Tavern—Dayton’s oldest standing building—was disassembled at Van Cleve Park in downtown Dayton, moved to Carillon Park, and dedicated on May 1, 1965. Central to community life, the tavern also served as Dayton’s first jail, church, general store, and Montgomery County’s first courthouse.

 

1972

In 1936, Orville Wright helped Henry Ford move the Wright brothers’ boyhood home (7 Hawthorn St.), and the bicycle shop where they conducted their aeronautical research (1127 W. Third St.), to Ford’s Greenfield Village museum in Dearborn, Michigan. During the 1960s, local politicians sought to have the famous buildings returned to Dayton, but the campaign lost momentum. The publicity, however, brought renewed interest in the Wright Brothers story, and a replica of The Wright Cycle Company was constructed next to Wright Hall. On May 6, its dedication became a major community event.

 

1976

On May 1, through the efforts of graduate Leslie C. Mapp, the 1896 Locust Grove Schoolhouse No. 12 was dedicated at Carillon Park. Mr. Mapp, Chairman and CEO of Dayton’s Mikesells Potato Chip Company from 1966-2005, believed that future generations would benefit from the preservation of this link to the past. Over 40 years later, tens of thousands of students have enjoyed unique educational experiences in the building.

 

1978

On April 29, the B&O Caboose, Bowling Green Station, and Watchtower were dedicated at Carillon Park.

 

1979

On April 29, the canal superintendent’s office was dedicated at Carillon Park.

 

1985

The name of the organization was changed to Carillon Historical Park and the Carillon Park Rail and Steam Society began operations.

 

1988

The original bells and celestron were removed from Deeds Carillon—new bells were manufactured by Petit & Fritsen Royal Bellfoundry in The Netherlands. On October 23, a dedication recital was held to celebrate the occasion.

 

1990

The 1905 Wright Flyer III was designated a National Historic Landmark—the first airplane to receive such a distinction.

 

1992

On October 16, the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act, establishing Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. The 1905 Wright Flyer III was named as one of the legislated units of the new national park.

 

1999

On May 19, a grant was awarded for the conservation of the Wright Flyer III. On August 1, the Kettering Family Education Center opened to the public.

 

2000

On September 30, the James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center was dedicated at Carillon Park.

 

2001

On May 5, Culp’s Café opened, marking the first time food was regularly served at Carillon Park. Reminiscent of Culp’s Cafeteria—a longtime, family-owned Dayton Arcade establishment—the Culp family generously aided in the restaurant’s construction.

 

2002

On June 22, the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center was dedicated. The Center created a single complex of four buildings: Wright Hall, the Wright Cycle Company replica, and the new Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright wings. This Aviation Center has more Wright artifacts on display than any place in the world.

 

2003

On February 20, the 1905 Wright Flyer III was designated an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. During the 100th anniversary of flight, the Wright brothers’ story was told from July 4 – 20 through Carillon Park’s production of Time Flies: Catch It In The Act—a living history experience held at all Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites

 

2004

On April 7, the Sugar Camp/WAVES cabin (ca. 1934) was relocated from NCR’s Sugar Camp training facility, marking the first time since the 1980s that an historic structure was moved to Carillon Park. Over 60 of these cabins once stood at Sugar Camp; they were originally used as seasonal quarters for salesmen-in-training. During World War II, over 600 women—known as the U.S. Navy WAVES—occupied the cabins to work on the top-secret Dayton Codebreaking Project, an effort aimed at cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma Code. Fittingly, the building was dedicated on June 6—Operation Overlord’s 60th anniversary (the D-Day invasion of western Europe).

 

2005

On July 27, in recognition of its architectural and cultural significance, Deeds Carillon was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Viewed as one of the largest intact corporate collections in the United States, the majority of the NCR Archive contains tremendous regional stories. A long-term management, research, and exhibition agreement was reached between NCR and Carillon Historical Park.

 

2007

With the ownership transfer of Orville Wright’s Hawthorn Hill from NCR to the Wright Family Foundation, Dayton History was available to provide interpretive and artifact oversight. In 2013, Hawthorn Hill was officially gifted to Dayton History, along with many original furnishings.

Following the retirement of Kettering-Moraine Museum Director Melba Hunt, Dayton History approached the cities of Kettering and Moraine to safeguard the Kettering-Moraine Museum’s artifacts. With the support from both cities and others, the museum was gifted and moved to Carillon Historical Park.

 

2009

As site manager, Carillon Historical Park was approached to help secure and expand operations at the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial. This is done in close partnership with the National Park Service and the newly rebranded Ohio History Connection.

NCR Old River Park, Carillon’s sister park across Patterson Boulevard, was reopened by Dayton History. With the assistance of NCR, Old River Park was cleaned, equipped with new boats, and opened to the general public for the first time. In 2011, Old River was sold to the University of Dayton, thus terminating operations.

 

2010

In order to consolidate some of the eclectic stories and artifacts throughout Dayton History’s collections, the Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship was constructed. The region’s business and invention narratives are shared daily through animatronics, archival film footage, and the Carousel of Dayton Innovation.

Following an impressive renovation by Montgomery County, Dayton’s Old Court House (ca. 1850) was in need of a steward to provide preservation and programming services. Dayton History was contracted to deliver cost efficient professional oversight.

Montgomery County asked Dayton History to step in and leverage its strengths to provide preservation and programming services at Memorial Hall. Public access was restored immediately and a series of special programs occur annually.

 

2011

A previously inaccessible 20-acre experience was born at Carillon Park. History on the Hill is the establishment of wooded walking trails weaving through Carillon’s own property history. Regional geology, agriculture, medical care, gardens, and native plants and peoples are all explored.

 

2013

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Great 1913 Flood, regional artifacts were pulled together at Carillon Park to create the region’s authoritative exhibition regarding the flood, rescue, restoration, and protection. The community’s flood collections were centralized to create this permanent tribute.

 

2014

Carillon Historical Park makes history by becoming the nation’s first museum to open a fully operational historic production brewery. Carillon Brewing Co. is an award-winning costumed interpretive experience, historic food ways demonstration space, and a full-service restaurant all in one.

 

2015

With an established track record of managing museums, and mutual interest in aviation heritage, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) engaged Dayton History to take over the NAHF Learning Center’s daily operations.

The ownership of Patterson Homestead was transferred to Carillon Historical Park.

 

Carillon Historical Park & Dayton History Additions by Decade:

 

1940s:

Deeds Carillon

 

1950s:

William Morris House, Deeds Barn, Corliss Engine building, Miami-Erie Canal Lock, Smith Covered Bridge, Wright Hall, Wagon Shed, Grist Mill

 

1960s:

Newcom Tavern, Fireless Locomotive building

 

1970s:

The Wright Cycle Company building, Locust Grove Schoolhouse, Bowling Green Depot, Watchtower, Canal Superintendent’s Office

 

1980s:

The Print Shop, Dayton Sales, Sunoco Station, H.K. Porter Locomotive, Morrison Iron Bridge, CPR&SS Tracks

 

1990s:

Kettering Family Education Center

 

2000s:

Dicke Family Transportation Center, Culp’s Café, Picnic Pavilion, Sugar Camp/WAVES Cabin, Dayton Cyclery, Wilbur Wright Wing, Orville Wright Wing, Marie Aull Sculpture, Oasis Restroom building, NCR Collection, Hawthorn Hill, Kettering-Moraine Museum, NCR Old River Park, Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site.

 

2010s:

Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship, The Old Court House, Memorial Hall, History on the Hill, The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit, Carillon Brewing Company, the National Aviation Hall of Fame Learning Center, and ownership of Patterson Homestead.

Policies


Policies

• Carillon Historical Park is a non-smoking campus

• Members must present their ID with their membership card during every visit.
Why do I need to present my photo ID as a member? As a privately funded non-profit museum, we rely on the generosity of our members, donors, and attendance to help us achieve our mission to inspire generations by connecting them with the unique people, places, and events that changed Dayton and the world. By verifying each membership with a photo ID, Dayton History can protect our members from fraudulent uses if cards have been lost or stolen. We are taking this precaution so we can continue to provide affordable memberships to our guests and bring new exhibits and experiences to life. We hope to see you at the park soon!

• Certified Service Animals and Animals in Training for Certification will be permitted to assist visitors with disabilities. A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks for a person with disabilities. Service animals must be controlled with a restraining device and must display appropriate behavior at all times while on our property. There is a limit of one service animal per guest.

We are not permitted to take control of your service animal. Service animals must be leashed, under the owner’s control. While on the train and carousel, service animals must fit on the floor of the ride vehicle, and be seated on the floor, not the ride seat. Please stop by the front desk for more information.

• Any group functions, gatherings, or ceremonies at Deeds Carillon or anywhere on Carillon Historical Park property must be scheduled and approved in advance. Contact Dayton History at daytonhistory.org or 937-293-2841 for additional details regarding availability, fees and other information.

• The shape, form, and image of Deeds Carillon are registered trademarks and are not to be used for commercial, advocacy, endorsement, or political purposes without the express written permission of Carillon Historical Park.

• Guests are invited to use the picnic tables located in the Picnic Grove.  Grilling is not permitted in the Park.

• Rollerblading and skateboarding are not permitted on the Park grounds.  Bicycling is permitted only through the parking lots and entrance roads while connecting to the bake path.

• Help us maintain the safety and quality of exhibits by not eating, drinking, or smoking in any Park buildings.

• Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be carried into the Park but can be purchased at the Carillon Brewing Co., Culp’s Café, or at beverage stations during special events.

• Attendance on the museum property is implied consent for the use of the guests’ likenesses for marketing/promotional purposes.

• Prohibited Activities: Lighting candles, erecting furniture/structures, soliciting, rallies, vigils, overnight parking, lighting fireworks, launching model rockets, flying remote-controlled aircraft and drones.

• Photography and video recording are allowed on campus for private, personal use.  For details regarding commercial photography and photography usage please contact the Marketing Department at 937-293-2841 ext. 105.  All photo/videographers, personal or commercial, are subject to the terms set forth in the Dayton History Photography Policy.

 

Parking & Accessibility


Parking & Accessibility

• Parking at Carillon Historical Park is typically free.  There may be a parking fee required during special events.

• Due to the historic nature of some of the buildings at Carillon Historical Park, wheelchair access may not be available in some instances.

• The Carousel of Dayton Innovation is wheelchair accessible and located inside the Kettering Family Education Center.

• Manual wheelchairs are offered for use on-site, free of charge, based on availability.

• For additional information about accessibility, please contact the Education Scheduling desk at 937-293-2841 ext. 127 or education1@daytonhistory.org.

About Us


Our Mission

Carillon Historical Park is Montgomery County’s official historical organization. Our mission is to inspire generations by connecting them with the unique people, places, and events that changed Dayton and the world. Our vision is a world inspired through our unique regional stories.

About Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Historical Park celebrates how Dayton, Ohio, changed the world. The Gem City is home to the airplane, the automobile self-starter, the cash register, the first internationally acclaimed African American poet, the National Football League’s inaugural game, and so much more. By the turn of the 20th century, Dayton had more patents, per capita, than any U.S. city, and one-sixth of the nation’s corporate executives had spent a portion of their career at legendary Dayton company National Cash Register (NCR). 

Dayton’s extraordinary history has undoubtedly impacted billions of lives. With a hand-carved carousel, 4-D theatre, trains, slides, living history experiences, thousands of artifacts, extensive educational programming, and so much more, Carillon Historical Park brings Dayton’s past to life in a way that is fun for the whole family! Here are some highlights

  • At 151-feet, with 57 bells, the limestone Deeds Carillon—the Park’s namesake—was designed by Reinhard & Hofmeister, the same architectural firm responsible for Rockefeller Center. It is Ohio’s largest carillon and one of the largest carillons in the nation. The grounds surrounding the carillon and the Park’s entry gates were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the famed landscape architects responsible for Central Park
  • The John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum has more Wright artifacts on display than any place in the world, including the 1905 Wright Flyer III—the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark, the world’s first practical flying machine, and what Orville considered the Wrights’ most important aircraft.
  • Carillon Brewing Co. offers visitors a glimpse into 1850s-era Dayton through the authentically prepared food and drink of the times. It is the nation’s only fully operational production brewery in a museum.
  • Housed in the Heritage Center of Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship is the beautiful, hand-carved Carousel of Dayton Innovation; an extensive collection of antique NCR cash registers; a 4-D animatronic theatre; and the original Deeds Barn, the storied building where Charles Kettering and the Barn Gang built the automobile self-starter, changing transportation as we know it.
  • The James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center displays the 1835 B&O #1, John Quincy Adams, the oldest existing American-built locomotive; the gorgeous and opulent 1903 Detroit & Mackinac Passenger Car #100 (built by Dayton company Barney & Smith); an 1843 Conestoga wagon; a 1904 interurban; a 1923 B&O caboose; and many fascinating transportation artifacts.
  • Our Great 1913 Flood exhibit tells the story of Ohio’s worst natural disaster and the remarkable story of Dayton’s recovery.
  • Carillon Historical Park is home to over 30 historic structures and cares for over three million artifacts.

About Dayton History

In 2005, Carillon Historical Park merged with the Montgomery County Historical Society to create a new umbrella organization known as Dayton History. The private non-profit (501c3) organization was established to preserve, share, and celebrate our region’s history. Carillon Historical Park is home to over 30 historic structures and cares for over three million artifacts. In addition to the Park, the following sites rest under Dayton History’s care:

  • Carillon Brewing Company: The nation’s only fully operational production brewery in a museum. Est. 2014.
  • Hawthorn Hill: Orville Wright’s success mansion. Join the ranks of Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison as visitors to the first pilot’s last home. Est. 1914.
  • Patterson Homestead: Originally the home of Colonel Robert Patterson, a Revolutionary War soldier and founder of Lexington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, this storied structure also served as home to Colonel Patterson’s grandson, NCR Founder John H. Patterson. Est. 1816.
  • The Archive Center: Housing millions of the Dayton region’s artifacts. Once managed solely by the Montgomery County Historical Society (est. 1896), the collection at the Archive Center is well over 100-years-old.
  • The Mound Cold War Discovery CenterFrom 1948–2003, the top-secret, scientific work of Mound Laboratory revolutionized Cold War, Nuclear Age, and Space Race history.

Hours & Pricing


Hours & Pricing

Carillon Historical Park

Hours of Operation*: Monday – Saturday: 9:30am-5:00pm, Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm (*Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day)

Admission: $14 per adult (ages 18-59), $12 per senior, $10 per child (3 –17), Children age 2 and under and Dayton History members are FREE
Members must present their ID with their membership card during every visit.

Carousel Ride – $1
Carillon Park Train Ride – $5
All Day Ride Band – $12

937-293-2841
1000 Carillon Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45409

Purchase Tickets

Carillon Brewing Company

Hours of Operation*: Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
(*Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day)

Admission: Park Admission is not required to dine at Carillon Brewing Co.

937-910-0722
1000 Carillon Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45409

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Culp’s Café

Hours of Operation*: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
(*Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day)

Admission: Park Admission is not required to dine at Culp’s Café

937-293-2841
1000 Carillon Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45409

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Hawthorn Hill

Hours of Operation*: Wednesdays & Saturdays: 10:00am, 12:30pm. Advance Pre-Paid Admission Required. Access to the site is via shuttle van from Carillon Historical Park. Space is limited. Call for availability. (*Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day)

Admission: $16 per person, $14 per Dayton History member
Upgrade Your Admission Ticket! $26 per person (Includes Carillon Historical Park & Hawthorn Hill!)

Purchase Tickets

Patterson Homestead

Hours of Operation*: Please call to schedule a special tour. Two-week advance notice required. Monthly Open House dates can be found on the Events Calendar.
(*Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day)

Admission: $5 per person, School groups: $3 per person, teachers & faculty FREE!

937-293-2841
1815 Brown Street, Dayton OH 45409

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