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

Eichelberger Pavilion


Eichelberger Pavilion

Impress your guests at our newest venue! With a two-story grand ballroom, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the picturesque Carillon Park grounds, ample parking, and unique design features inspired by the extravagant NCR cash registers from the turn of the century, this truly unique space is perfect for weddings, conferences, and celebrations of any kind. The space is comfortable for receptions of 250-300 guests, but can seat up to 700 dinner guests and accommodate many more with theater seating or a cocktail-style gathering.

Capacity: 500+ people. Please contact Event Services at (937) 293-2841 Ext. 415 or events@daytonhistory.org.

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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.

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Private Event Rental


Book Your Event with Dayton History

Interested in planning your event with us? Fill out the interest form below! For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our event coordinators, please call 937-293-2841 Ext. 415 or email events@daytonhistory.org

Event Inquiry

Carillon Historical Park - Deeds Carillon Bell Tower

Deeds Carillon Bell Tower

Surrounded by Carillon Historical Park’s beautiful 65–acre campus, with its commanding view of the Great Miami River, the Deeds Carillon Bell Tower provides an iconic setting for a wedding ceremony. Deeds Carillon was built in 1942 by Reinhard & Hofmeister of New York—the same architectural firm responsible for Rockefeller Center.

Carillon Historical Park - Eichelberger Pavilion

Eichelberger Pavilion

Impress your guests with Carillon Historical Park’s newest venue! With a two-story grand ballroom, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the picturesque Carillon Park grounds, ample parking, and unique design features inspired by the extravagant NCR cash registers from the turn of the century, this truly unique space is perfect for weddings, and celebrations of any kind.

Carillon Historical Park - Kettering Family Education Center

Kettering Family Education Center

The Kettering Family Education Center is adjacent to the Heritage Center of Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship—an expansive exhibit space themed around Dayton’s rich heritage of innovation, manufacturing, and industry. It is the perfect venue for corporate banquets, receptions, and meetings.

Patterson Homestead

Patterson Homestead

Surrounded by a lush green lawn and colorful gardens, beautiful wedding ceremonies take place at Patterson Homestead’s picturesque white gazebo. The Homestead was originally constructed in 1816 by Col. Robert Patterson, a Revolutionary War veteran, the founder of Lexington, Kentucky, and the grandfather of legendary NCR Founder John H. Patterson. The venue’s large open indoor room is perfect for rehearsal dinners, small gatherings, or meetings.

Hawthorn Hill

Hawthorn Hill

Join the ranks of Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison as visitors to the first pilot’s last home. Designed by the Wright brothers, and occupied by Orville, Katharine, and Bishop Milton Wright, this elite venue is popular for intimate gatherings, networking events, and entertaining clients. Sitting high on an Oakwood hilltop, with its white pillars and twin porches, Hawthorn Hill is a National Historic Landmark—Orville Wright’s home from 1914–1948.

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FAQ


Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does your pricing work?
A. Our pricing is specific to the venue you’ve selected and services you’d like included, such as any rented linens, tables, chairs, tents, or bar packages. Any rented items must be purchased through Dayton History using our partner business, Prime Time Party Rental, as linens are required on all guest and food tables. In addition, all alcoholic beverages consumed on Dayton History’s premises must be purchased through Dayton History.
Q. How do I find out what my event might cost?
A. The best way to get an estimate is to give our exclusive caterers, Bernstein’s Fine Catering, a call 937-293-2841 ext. 415, or email events@daytonhistory.org. They will gladly walk you through all the services we offer, check the availability of your date, and provide you a price estimate of what you can expect for the services and type of event you have in mind.
Am I allowed to bring in my own food for my event, have someone I know cater it, or have a pot-luck style event?
We are proud to have Bernstein’s Fine Catering as our exclusive catering suppliers.

  • Bernstein’s Fine Catering: With over 28 years of business, Bernstein’s Fine Catering is devoted to consistently providing and enhancing the total catering experience with exceptional food, outstanding service, and superb value. From box lunches to white-glove service, Bernstein’s Fine Catering can provide for all your catering desires and requirements. They also offer specialized menus such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or Kosher requests. They estimate that they handle more than 90 percent of all Dayton-area kosher catering requests — both corporate and social. Bernstein’s shops for ingredients locally as much as possible, and also has a pastry chef on staff to offer wedding cakes and baked goods. They view each event as a unique experience, so every menu and detail is personalized.
    Phone: 937.293.2841 ext. 415
    Email: events@daytonhistory.org
    www.bernsteinscatering.com
Q. Can we do any decorating ourselves?
A. All rented items for the event must be rented by a Dayton History Event Coordinator using Prime Time Party Rental. Because many of Dayton History’s venues are open to the public during normal business hours, there is a limited set-up time available prior to events. Our set typically begins two hours prior to the event. Our team will set the tables, chairs and anything rented by Prime Time Party Rental. Any additional setup is the client/vendor’s responsibility. We typically recommend trusting a florist to manage and set up your decorations, and we’re more than happy to recommend some great vendors to help.
Q. How many people can be seated at your venues?
A. We are creative, flexible, and willing to work with you no matter what size of event you’re planning, so please call to talk through other options if your number doesn’t seem to be ideal for our venues. Below is the recommended capacities for our venues:

  • Eichelberger Pavilion – 500 guests
  • James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center – 120 guests
  • Kettering Family Education Center Atrium – 130 guests
  • Deeds Carillon – vast outdoor space – 150 guests
  • Carillon Event Lawn – vast outdoor space
  • Miller Picnic Pavilion – 40 guests
  • Whitney Picnic Pavilion – 80 guests
  • Patterson Homestead – 80 guests
  • Hawthorn Hill – 50 guests
Q. Can I get married & have my reception at your venue?
A. Absolutely! We have many options for ceremonies as well as receptions. We also have numerous wedding ceremonies on the Town Greene with the reception in the Kettering Family Education Center. In some circumstances where the wedding ceremony takes place in the exact same room as the reception, we typically have the room set for the ceremony as it will be for the reception (guests seated at round tables.) Check our Pinterest page for pictures of wedding ceremonies receptions that have taken place at our venues in the past.
Q. How much time do I receive with my rental?
A. Most of our event rental blocks are for a five hour event. We usually begin setting for the event two hours prior to the event’s start. It is also an option to purchase additional hours to extend your event. For wedding ceremonies, you will receive a one hour rental for your rehearsal the day before and a two hour event block the day of. If you’d like to additional time for photographs or decorations, you are welcome to do so for an additional fee at the time of your booking.
Q. What other services do you offer other than the event venue?
A. In addition to providing all the rented items through the use of Prime Time Party Rental, our Event Coordinators are happy to assist you through the planning process from details such as picking out your linen colors and recommending great vendors for your entertainment. We set up and tear down all of the tables, chairs and linens for our events, and we provide you with a staff “Captain” who will be at your event from start to finish. Dayton History also offers several different bar packages available for you to choose from for your event.
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