The Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
“The Wright Brothers created the single greatest cultural force since the invention of writing. The
airplane became the first World Wide Web, bringing people, languages, ideas, and values together.”
– Bill Gates
David McCullough’s “The Wright Brothers” (the best-selling book of his career) has clearly
demonstrated the public’s interest in the Wright brothers. That same story will be told to millions of
viewers via a Tom Hanks’ produced mini-series sometime prior to the end of this decade. The Dayton
Aviation Redevelopment Project, the Wright brothers and their hometown of Dayton, Ohio is sure to
benefit from that publicity and exposure.
Background
Wilbur and Orville Wright often are remembered for their first sustained, controlled, powered flights on
the beaches of Kitty Hawk on Dec. 17, 1903. Yet, it was their subsequent development and
commercialization work, leading to factory production of airplanes that made them the legendary
creators of the “first World Wide Web” – connecting the world through flight in ways never imagined.
While the Wright brothers’ process of invention took place in their bicycle shop, the production
activities that put flight within reach of the public took place in the Wright airplane factory that exists
today in Dayton. The Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project presents an opportunity to
preserve this unique piece of aviation history, use it to help transform the west side of Dayton and to set
the stage for creating a place that could become a manufacturing hub for the aviation and aerospace
industry in the Dayton region.
The Wright Company factory site is located on the former Delphi Home Avenue plant in Dayton, Ohio.
The factory was the first in America built for the purpose of manufacturing airplanes. This site was
designated as a part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in accordance with Public
Law 111-11 in 2009.
Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) and his brother Orville (1871-1948) built their first experimental airplanes
in the back of their bicycle shop at 1127 W. Third St. They incorporated the Wright Company in
November 1909. The company operated temporarily in rented space until Building 1 was completed in
1910. Building 2 was erected in 1911.
The Wright Company produced 13 different models of airplanes and introduced industrial aviation to
several individuals who later became prominent in aviation manufacturing, among them Frank H. Russell
(1878–1947) and Grover C. Loening (1888–1976). Altogether, the factory turned out approximately 120
aircraft between 1910 and 1915, when Orville sold his interest in the company following Wilbur’s death
in 1912.
Current Plan
In accordance with its strategic plan, the National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) expects to
complete negotiations by the end of 2016 to acquire the entire site (the six buildings and 54 acres of
property) from the current property owner, Home Avenue Redevelopment LLC. Demolition and
environmental cleanup of the site, which represents Phase 1 of the Dayton Aviation Heritage
Redevelopment Project was completed in 2014. Upon acquisition, the Alliance plans to sell the historic
structures (Buildings 1, 2 and 17) to the National Park Service. The Park Service must conduct a Historic
Structures Report and a Unit Management Plan for this site so it can begin the restoration of the
buildings constructed by the Wright brothers.
Proposed Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Wright Factory Unit Entryway
Proposed Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Wright Factory Unit Interior View
NAHA is committed to utilizing the remaining three buildings by bringing both non-profit and for profit
entities to the site. NAHA has completed the design work on restoring Building 3 for use by an Alliance
partner, Wright B Flyer Inc. Plans call for the final assembly of the new Wright B Flyer in Building 3. Once
completed that space will be available for home built aircraft construction in partnership with entities
like Experimental Aircraft Association members or a for profit company that manufactures kit airplanes.
Conceptual View of Buildings 3-5
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
Conceptual View of Development Adjacent to Wright Factory Unit
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
In 2016 Dayton Metro Library announced it will construct its new west Dayton branch adjacent to the
Wright Factory Unit. It is anticipated that construction will be begin on this project in 2017 with a grand
opening planned in 2018.
In addition, NAHA has opened discussions with commercial developers to partner in developing the
remaining 24 acres of this site. Beyond the history of the site, it has several attributes that make it ideal
for development. It is served by a limited access highway (US 35), within 3 miles of Interstate 75, an
active rail spur, and industrial capacity gas, water, and electric services. In addition, the Dayton Veteran
Affairs Medical Center is within a mile of the site and a potential partner for continued renewal in the
west Dayton area.
Proposed Wright Factory Campus Plan (Parcels 1 and 2)
Dayton Metro Library and Future Outlot Buildings
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
Phase 2
Acquisition (54 acres and
structures)
Budget
$1,000,000
Stabilization of Structures
$250,000
Buildings 1-2, 17
Restore site utilities and security
$1,000,000
Restore Bldg. 3
$500,000
Site Work (roads, parking lots)
$500,000
Improvements for Bldgs. 4-5
$780,000
Planning Studies
Historic Structures Report
$470,000
Unit Plan
$500,000
Totals
$5,000,000
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
Wright Company Factory Historic Structure Report, $470,000
Park priority #1
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park intends to enter into a contract with a qualified
historian or architectural historian to research and write a historic structure report for the Wright
Company factory buildings in west Dayton. The 1909-1916 Wright Company, the brothers' attempt to
commercially build airplanes, contracted with the John Rouzer Company of Dayton, which built buildings
1 (22,493 square feet/2,090 square meters) and 2 (20,101 square feet/1,867 square meters) of the fivebuilding complex in 1910 and 1911, respectively, while General Motors built three buildings (no. 3:
26,365 square feet/2,449 square meters; no. 4: 15,567 square feet/1,446 square meters; no. 5: 21,428
square feet/1,991 square meters) of similar architectural style connected to the older two structures in
the 1920s, after Orville Wright sold the Wright Company. The site was part of an Inland/Delco/Delphi
automotive parts factory until 2009. Legislation expanded the national park's boundary to encompass
the site in 2009.
The structure report is a critically needed document for the Wright Company factory unit of the park.
The park is working with the Aviation Heritage Foundation, Inc. doing business as the National Aviation
Heritage Alliance (NAHA) and the city of Dayton to ensure that the buildings and landscape within the
NPS boundary are developed in a manner sympathetic to the site's nationally significant history while
allowing for sympathetic commercial redevelopment of the much larger portion of the factory site
outside the NPS boundary. NAHA and the city, along with Citywide Development (a private community
development corporation that has a contractual relationship with the city) are proceeding with site
redevelopment, and the park has no study that examines the condition of the historic structures,
provides triaged, prescriptive preservation treatments for them, and examines how best they can be
separated and segregated from the remainder of the commercial property. NAHA also has plans for
certain buildings at the site. The factory buildings have been vacant since Delphi vacated the site in
2009, and it is imperative that the study be undertaken before the structures deteriorate further from
lack of maintenance or occupancy. The project will resolve significant adverse impacts presently
affecting the site and its resources. It will also serve as a model for other units to use in preparing
historic structure reports for former industrial structures.
The historic structure report will qualify as a required park baseline cultural resources document under
the strictures of NPS-28, and the information in it will be used by park interpreters and exhibit designers
to transfer knowledge to visitors and other stakeholders in accessible manners. Moreover, it will
identify the ways in which climate change affects the structure's condition. The report also supports
goal 19 of the Call to Action, engaging park visitors with interpretive media based on current
scholarship. The Wright Company factory buildings are "fundamental park resources" as identified in
the park's establishing legislation (Congress having added them to the park years after the last
amendment to the park's general management plan). The need of the project is also noted in the park's
foundation document, the final version of which is expected in the spring or summer of 2015.
Using the multidisciplinary analysis of historical architects, historians, and other professionals, the
completed historic structure report (which the park will make publicly available online on the NPS
History site and will deposit with appropriate libraries) will provide site managers and interpreters a
baseline document for future site rehabilitation, environmental remediation, and interpretation and will
enhance the park's ability to preserve its historic structures and enhance visitor understanding. The
park intends to work with several partners, including the National Aviation Heritage Alliance and Wright
B, Inc., in the site's development, and the structure report will ensure that the park plans future
activities at the site in a sustainable manner that mitigates any adverse effects on the site and avoids
contributing to climate change as much as possible.
Data generated through the structure report will be entered into FMSS to prepare work orders and
project statements for future maintenance actions. It will also result in the creation of a GIS database of
the building's resources, incorporating research information to support management decisions, analysis,
and interpretation. The report will also address the potential effects of climate change on the historic
fabric of the building and prescribe appropriate preservation treatments. Any archives generated by
this project will be added to the park's curatorial collection; given the ability of the park to handle
cataloging in house, no additional funding is sought for this purpose.
Dayton Aviation Heritage Redevelopment Project
Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP New Unit Management Plan, $500,000
Two new, geographically separate units have been added to Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP making the
current park General Management Plan obsolete. The new areas change how the Park interprets Wright
brothers themes. A new management plan will be developed to include all park and partnership sites.
The park's current GMP dates from 1997, and was amended in 2006. Since those documents were
developed the park has expanded to include new sites and partners. A new plan, or plan amendment is
needed to assist development of the new park sites, their integration into the larger Park, as well as the
formation of partnership arrangements to assist with the management of these sites.
Hawthorn Hill is the large house built by the Wrights after they successfully started their airplane
business. This is a major structure that will add a significant new preservation and maintenance
workload to a park that has not previously included a historic house. The house is located in a
community which is concerned about hosting park visitors or accommodating parking. Partnership
issues with Dayton History, the owner of the property, need to be examined. All of these issues need to
be addressed in a new GMP or an amendment to a GMP.
The Wright Company factory is the oldest purpose-built airplane factory in the world, and among the
oldest surviving aviation structures. The site is located within a larger factory complex that has been
razed. Through a grant funded by the State of Ohio, the City of Dayton is working to clean up and
redevelop the site in partnership with the National Aviation Heritage Alliance. The Park will want to take
possession of a portion within the Park boundary, which, at 20 acres, is a significant increase in the
park's landbase, but relationships with adjacent parcels being redeveloped need to be worked out, and
the boundary is quite a bit larger than the footprint of the factory buildings and an assessment of the
need to retain all of the property within the boundary needs to be made in a planning document. The
footprint of the Wright historic factory buildings is over 44,000 square feet, and there is plenty of room
to accommodate partner activities that further the themes of the Park. The Park needs a revised plan to
guide the reutilization of the factory buildings and the nature of the partnerships to be located at the
site.
A new management plan or a plan to amend the current GMP will be prepared which will document
how the two new units of Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP will be integrated into the Park and what
activities and partnership arrangements will fostered.