When people think of cities to spend a vacation, Dayton, Ohio doesn’t typically come to mind. It is often overshadowed by its nearby larger neighbors, Cincinnati and Columbus. But this unassuming mid-sized Midwestern city, nicknamed the Gem City, packs a lot of punch, surprising many visitors with its considerable list of attractions and neighborhoods worth exploring. Dayton’s industrial ingenuity shaped both an American city and the world for over a hundred years. That inventive spirit continues today as the city builds on its history of innovation while investing in downtown redevelopment, arts, and outdoor recreation. Dayton combines an impressive collection of museums and historic sites with lively neighborhoods, craft breweries, restaurants, parks and an increasingly energetic arts scene. It is a city with a distinctly Midwestern personality—unpretentious, friendly and proud of its remarkable contributions to American history.
I spent two years living in Dayton after graduating from college. Just about every year, when I go home to Cincinnati, I make a stop in Dayton to visit its attractions and witness its remarkable transformation.
A City of Innovation
Dayton, also known as the City of Invention, is where an ordinary bicycle shop became the Birthplace of Aviation. It was here that brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright transformed their fascination with bicycles, mechanics and flight into an invention that changed the world. Today, aviation is celebrated throughout the city with multiple attractions including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park. But Dayton isn’t just about airplanes. During the early 20th century, the city was considered the Silicon Valley of its time, with innovations ranging from the cash register, the automotive self-starter, freon, the self-contained refrigerator, gas masks, and much more. By 1900, the city led the nation in patents per capita. But by the second half of the 20th century, a global economy led to manufacturing jobs disappearing and factories closing. Dayton was hit hard by deindustrialization, suburbanization and the loss of company headquarters like NCR and Mead Paper Company. More recently, the Opioid epidemic hit Dayton hard, partially due to its location along two prominent interstate truck routes. Thankfully, Dayton’s leaders hit back, and the epidemic is a fraction of what it once was.
Today, Dayton’s inventive spirit remains as the city is experiencing a remarkable transformation with vibrant new neighborhoods, landmarks, restaurants, cultural facilities and other attractions like the beautiful Cox Arboretum.
Downtown Dayton
Many of Dayton’s best attractions are located in the city’s historic downtown which sits at the point where the Mad River spills into the Great Miami River. Along the south bank of the Great Miami River is the RiverScape Metro Park, a popular gathering spot for cycling, kayaking, and ice skating. An extensive system of over 300 miles of paved recreational trails follow the rivers and former rail corridors, making Dayton a great place for cyclists, joggers and walkers. Outside Magazine named Dayton one of the “25 Best Towns for Outdoorsy People.” The downtown is compact enough to explore without being overwhelmed. Broad streets, a mix of old and new towers, and electric trolley buses (one of only a few cities still operating them), characterize the downtown. Many of the older office towers have been or are in the process of being renovated and converted to residential uses. In fact, more than 2,000 housing units have been added to the downtown over the past twenty years.
The gem of the Gem City is the Dayton Arcade, a collection of nine interconnected buildings constructed in 1904 wrapped around an ornate glass domed rotunda measuring 90 feet across. The Third Street entrance is designed with a Flemish façade, patterned after a guildhall in Amsterdam, and leads to a linear arcade connecting to the rotunda. When I lived in Dayton, the arcade was barely surviving, with a half empty food court and a few remaining shops. It closed shortly after I moved away and stood empty and decaying for 30 years, waiting for someone to invest in its redevelopment. Thankfully, the arcade has been restored and now houses a combination of venues including affordable loft housing targeted toward artists, a hotel, restaurants, shops, the University of Dayton Entrepreneurial center, a co-working space and the Contemporary Dayton art gallery.
Dayton has an arts scene that is considerably richer than one might expect for a city of its size. Both the historic and beautifully restored Victoria Theatre, built in 1866, and the nearby and more modern Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center host Broadway-style productions, concerts, opera, the Dayton Ballet and other performances. The Dayton Ballet, founded in 1937, is the second-oldest regional professional ballet company in the United States. Equally distinctive is the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), founded in 1968 and rooted in the African American experience. It has performed contemporary dance both nationally and internationally.
The Levitt Pavilion is an outdoor downtown concert venue offering a summer lineup of free and ticketed concerts in a relaxed setting where music, community and the city’s revitalization come together under the stars.
Car enthusiasts should make a visit to America’s Packard Museum, which occupies a former Packard automobile dealership on the south end of downtown. The museum houses an extensive collection of Packard automobiles and memorabilia, with vehicles dating from 1903 through 1956.
Explore Dayton’s Historic Neighborhoods
Dayton has a collection of historic, vibrant neighborhoods, all within walking distance of downtown, with each offering something unique.
Webster Station – The eastern edge of downtown is known as Webster Station, a former industrial area that has been revitalized and transformed into an entertainment and residential district. The catalyst for redevelopment was a baseball stadium built for the minor league baseball team, the Dayton Dragons in the 1990’s. Soon after, more development followed, including restaurants, bars, breweries, loft style housing, and the popular Second Street Market which houses numerous eateries, produce stands and stores selling locally made items.
The Oregon District – The Oregon District, located on the southeast edge of downtown, combines beautifully restored 19th-century architecture, brick streets, and independent restaurants, bars, shops and nightlife. It is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods for home buyers in Dayton. The area is particularly appealing in the evening, when Fifth Street becomes a gathering place for locals and visitors with its many restaurants, bars, coffee houses, galleries and book shops. Around Halloween, Hauntfest takes over Fifth Street, with DJs, street performers, food trucks, and a costume contest.
Grafton Hill – Across downtown and the Great Miami River is one of Dayton’s most beautiful neighborhoods known as Grafton Hill, a place I once called home. This historic neighborhood is characterized by leafy streets, large homes, and cultural facilities like the Dayton Masonic Temple and the Dayton Art Institute. The attractive Italian Renaissance-inspired building rises above a hill overlooking the Great Miami River and downtown. Its impressive collection encompasses American, European, African and Asian art, while changing exhibitions provide another reason to visit. Nearby, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church holds a large Panegyri festival each September, where visitors can watch traditional dancing, eat Greek food, and learn about Greek culture.
St. Anne’s Hill – St. Anne’s Hill is located to the east of the Oregon District, and is one of Dayton’s most appealing historic neighborhoods, with tree-lined streets, restored Victorian houses and a collection of more than 280 historic buildings. Some of the neighborhood’ architectural gems include the Steamboat House, the Bossler Mansion and the historic Dutoit farmhouse. Art lovers can visit the High Street Gallery, operated by the Dayton Society of Artists, and the neighborhood’s East Fifth Street corridor offers locally owned restaurants, cafés and the popular Fifth Street Brewpub.
Wright-Dunbar – To the west of downtown, across the Great Miami River, sits the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood, named after past famous residents. This once neglected neighborhood is experiencing a rebirth, with museums, shops and restaurants, and a new food hall. The highlight of this neighborhood is the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park which honors the lives and achievements of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright who operated their bicycle shop in the neighborhood, and Paul Lawrence Dunbar. This park includes attractions both in Wright-Dunbar, as well as other sites scattered throughout the region, such as Huffman Prairie, where the Wright Brothers tested and refined their aircraft. The Paul Laurence Dunbar House is located nearby and was the final home of the pioneering African American writer and poet and friend of the Wright brothers.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
One of the top attractions in the Dayton region is the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of downtown. The museum is the world’s oldest and largest military aviation museum, with displays of more than 350 aerospace vehicles along with thousands of artifacts spanning 20 indoor acres. The enormous collection takes visitors through the history of military aviation, from early aircraft to modern jets and spacecraft. Among the most memorable exhibits are the presidential aircraft, Cold War-era aircraft and displays devoted to World War II and the development of aviation technology. Admission to the museum is free, making it one of Dayton’s best bargains.
Carillon Historical Park
Much of Dayton’s past can be found at Carillon Historical Park, a 65-acre open-air history museum devoted to Dayton’s remarkable history of invention and industry. Historic buildings, exhibits and artifacts have been relocated to one location south of downtown, telling the story of Dayton’s people and companies that helped shape the city. Exhibits include a gristmill, railway station, schoolhouse, print shop, a transportation center, and remnant of the Miami and Erie Canal, and Dayton’s oldest surviving building, the Newcom Tavern dating from 1796. The park also includes the Wright Brothers National Museum, home to the original 1905 Wright Flyer III.
SunWatch Village
Located a few miles south of downtown along the Great Miami River is SunWatch Village and Archaeological Park. It offers a completely different perspective on the region’s history, with a reconstructed Fort Ancient culture village dating to the 12th and 13th centuries. It provides a fascinating reminder that the area’s history stretches back many centuries before Dayton became an industrial center.
Getting There and Around
Dayton is easy to reach by car. Interstates 70 and 75 intersect near the city. I-75 provides north-south access to Detroit and points south like Cincinnati and Atlanta, while I-70 connects Dayton with cities to the east and west, such as Columbus, Indianapolis and St. Louis.
For those arriving by air, Dayton International Airport (DAY) is about nine miles north of downtown, and has five airlines and non-stop commercial air service to 14 cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Washington D.C. Rental cars, taxis and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are available. Dayton RTA’s Route 43 provides public bus service between the airport and downtown Dayton.
Once in town, having a car is the easiest way to explore the region, especially for visiting spread out sights like the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Huffman Prairie, Carillon Historical Park. Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods are relatively easy to explore on foot. The Greater Dayton RTA operates an extensive bus network, with Wright Stop Plaza serving as the central downtown transit hub. The system also offers a trip planner and real-time bus information.
Getting around the region by bike is an excellent option, with more than 300 miles of paved, off-street trails.