Carillon Historical Park Reviews

4.8

2 of 187 Best Attractions in Dayton


Reviews

By rebekahj0 |

We visited to see the Christmas lights in December and decided to join. We’ve been back many times and enjoy ourselves each time. My children love the carousel and the many stations that provide a craft applicable to what they’re learning in the building. Carillon Park is an absolute gem.

By Brandon Gerding |

I have been too Dayton many many times and can't believe I never checked this place out til now. This museum was a sprawling complex of many historical items and many outbuildings too explore a local and important history of the Dayton area. In one of the outbuildings you get to check out an actual wright flyer. Many of the exhibits we're very informative and this is definitely worth visiting.

By bobV2781JB |

Great place to visit for the whole family We learned so much about Dayton and it’s history. I was thoroughly surprised at how much Dayton gets credit for inventing...

By John B |

Carillon Park is a very interesting and informative look into the history of Dayton. It highlights the many inventions that were developed in the area by Boss Kettering and John Patterson within Delco and Frigidaire plus NCR. It also covers much of the Wright Brothers story going from bicycle shop owners to aviation innovators.

By Sue S |

a lot of history here, set in a wonderful park noting the timeframe. The volunteers are very informative about the history.

By Onemoremilegirl |

This place is great! So much to see. We spent 3 hours & that wasn't enough time! I live here & never knew what a terrific museum this is!

By Ric M |

Dayton Ohio has always been known as the birthplace of aviation with the Wright Brothers. Dayton has also been know as the birthplace of innovation. With NCR, Mead Paper Company, hundreds of tool and die businesses in the Miami Valley lead to Thousands of patents and inventions. Carillon Park gives the public a chance to see the great history of the Dayton area.

By flyer22016 |

Located within Carillion Park is a newer brewery built in the early
German style and brewing in that style. The decor is open with large wooden beams supporting the high roof. A patio for warmer weather with plenty of space inside. A variety of in house beers and a restaurant make for a pleasant experience. Smelled a few beers but due to the late hour did not have a chance to sample food. Looking forward to the return visit.

By David S |

This park is a treasure trove of history about it’s mother city, Dayton. The park runs tours of Hawthorn Hill, the “mansion” owned by Orville Wright. Both brothers Intended to live in the house however Wilbur died prior to the completion of Holmes construction. The docent/guide was excellent and had a deep and personal knowledge of everything Wright.

The home they call a “mansion” holds many pieces of the original furniture. As a guest I wished to see the park have more revenue so they could fund the complete restoration and show the entire home. The tour includes 1st & 2nd floors which appears, based on photographs, to be a very close approximation of the way that the home looked when it was occupied by the Wright family. There is a lower level and 3rd floor that is not open to the public that apparently has finished living spaces. It’s easy to see where the house and the history of the family could be a stand alone attraction.

The park holds more Wright history including one of their bike shops and one of the original planes. The Smithsonian has the 1st one flown at Kitty Hawk.

Additionally, there are several buildings that retrace the business and industrial history of Dayton and include the stories of the people who made this city famous.

There are more buildings under construction which will hold additional displays being built. We got a feeling that goal is to give visitors a similar feeling to what you experience when you visit historic Colonial Williamsburg Virginia. It is easy to see that they could dress people in costume who would be there to regale the stories and tell visitors about the history of Dayton.

If you are in Dayton or anywhere remotely close, and you have any curiosity about the Wright brothers and the history of flight, this park is a must see destination.

By Dale S |

Carillon Historical Park was originally intended to highlight Dayton history for future generations and especially school children. However, Dayton history is really American history and beyond as the inventions from Dayton have changed the world. These include the electric starter for automobiles, the cash register and barcode scanning, and of course the airplane. Where would the world be without these incredible inventions from great minds in Dayton, Ohio. You won't want to miss this site and is worth the stop if you are traveling through the area north/south on I-75 or east/west on I-70. It's conveniently located just 10 miles south of the I-75/I-70 interchange just off the interstate on the south edge of Dayton. So much to learn and read and experience. I HIGHLY recommend it.

By Nathan C |

This place continues to grow and amaze. This is THE place for an excellent display of Dayton's history. It literally has something for everyone. It is very child friendly, with many exhibits having fun inter-active things for the kids. On the other hand it has artifacts and exhibits that will entertain adults too. I have been here multiple times for various special events that are always great fun.

By sunhead |

Interesting stop for an hour or two, but besides the Wright Brothers exhibit it was just a few old buildings. A big shout out to Carl at the Wright Brothers building for taking his time to share his knowledge and expertise. We learned so much from him. We took the "train" which at $5 still seemed too much to pay for 15 minutes around the park with recorded audio. Brewery and cafe both closed.

By Don C |

A bit of history captured with old trolley cars, old buses, a re-creation of the Wright Bros bicycle shop, etc. A very nice way to spend an afternoon.

By Erin R |

Lots to keep the kiddos entertained and lots to keep them learning! There are lots of hands on activities, a zoo, a giant water table and even a dig pit. Probably best for kiddos under 12.

By Barbara S |

This is a wonderful attraction if you are into history. Here you will learn history of industries, inventions, inventors, and the city of Dayton, OH. Just outstanding.

By TheLeongOhana |

We spent a couple hours here exploring both the inside and outdoor exhibits.

Until that day, I never realized how much manufacturing and industry was started here in Dayton. From NCR (cash registers), Delco (automotive), Frigidaire (refrigerators and home appliances) to aerospace, bicycles and more. The exhibits were through and detailed. Well designed and informative.

A working indoor carousel was located next to an indoor scale model train setup.

From the historical viewpoints there were a number of buildings relocated here from around d Dayton. A wooden covered bridge, an old clock tower (a climb up the 100+ stairs gave a good view of Dayton and the river), homes, cabins and so forth. Majority of them were open and decorated in the period.

One building contained just bicycles from the many manufacturers that used to be her in Dayton, I.e. Huffy, that I rode around as a youngster. Another building documented the effects and impacts of the the 1913 flood that destroyed a good part of Dayton. Trolley, trains and a bus were housed in a larger building and a docent was quite helpful in explaining the history of each before we were allowed to walk inside. A first class train coach was polished wood and quite plush for the day.

The 1905 Wright Flyer III was housed in its own museum building and amazingly restored from at least 80% of the recovered materials from storage in Kitty Hawk. Definitely worth seeing even if it’s not the first one that took flight. Other parts of the museum covered the Wright Brothers early days as printer and bicycle manufacturers. Guides here were helpful and gave good insight and details.

The Carillion Tower in front of the park is functioning but unfortunately we never heard it play during our visit.

Admission was reasonable for all that you get to see.

By gambrepm |

We attending the lighting ceremony of the tower this past Christmas and it is just beautiful It can be a bit difficult to get there but traffic moves through pretty well if you arrive a little ahead of time.

By tk1tp |

A must see about the history of Dayton! Nice gift shop. Adding new things all the time. Volunteers helpful and knowledgeable. Be sure to visit the Wright Bros building.

By jennifer |

Awesome park with a ton to see and do. There are a lot of animatronic displays. Whatever you do, don't miss the printing press display building, the worker there gave an awesome explanation of how the machinery worked! The Wright Bros museum inside the park is super cool too as is the Transportation museum. Definitely give yourself at least half a day to go through everything.

By Experience&Enjoy |

Carillon Historical Park is a conglomeration of several museums and historical sites. It is a truly lovely park with lots of walking and picnic tables for a great day with kids. Further, the park hosts several concerts and festivals throughout the year making it a great location to come back to all the time. It is a wonderful place to explore local history and get in touch with local societies.

By Mortgageman9000 |

If you want to know more about Dayton and it’s history Carillon Historical Park is a must visit. The most famous Daytonians, the Wright Brothers have many articles on display including the Wright B Flyer. A replica of their cycle shop is also on exhibit. Cannot cover in one visit.

By AmosRedux |

This park has a campus feel to it with buildings spread out on this site. You will learn much about inventors and entrepreneurs from the Dayton area. Each building has lots of artifacts. Some buildings have videos. And some have demonstrations. Some buildings are original; others are reconstructions.One piece that is missing is significant information about the people who lived here before the Europeans showed up.

By DanKan |

Visited during the Christmas holiday and don't regret it. Their light displays are nicely done. It was nice to do a wagon ride down the lit-up grounds. The tunnel slides are especially neat; you see the lights from the inside as you slide down. These slides were a hit for our daughter.

This park is incredible when it comes to the historical displays. They are all about the old days and how things used to be over a century ago. A real learning experience.

The carousel was very cool! Unlike a normal carousel, this one uses local products and transportation vehicles to ride on. Things like derby cars, candy boxes, dog food bag, etc.; just a nice change for a carousel. A real hit for the kids.

We really loved this park; it was far more than we expected.

By westcoastguy2015 |

I visited with my in-laws and my teenage niece. It was actually a cold Rainey day so we stayed inside and toured the areas of the museum that we had missed during our last visit in the summer. The inside spaces were a completely different experience and I highly recommend it.

By Brent H |

Going in the middle of the week was a good choice. I got a personal walk around inside the transportation museum and the Wright museum. Both of these are well worth the visit, not to mention everything else on the grounds. There are some historical artifacts that you cannot see anywhere else as they literally don't exist. The grounds are lovely and I would love to come back when the weather is nice. The staff is excellent as well. I haven't been to a museum where the docents were that helpful in a long time. As an added bonus a young bald eagle pair has just established a nest above the Wright museum and you can see them flying around or sitting in the trees. Very neat experience.

By skimmel31 |

It has been about a year since we visited Carillon Park, but it had many more features than I anticipated. There was a display of items from a number of Dayton-Area businesses including a large display of antique cash registers from NCR. There were also a number of antique buildings and a display that featured a Wright Brothers flyer (I think that it was the 1905 model) including a information about the Wright brothers. I believe that there is also a reproduction of the Wright Brother's shop as the original was appropriated by Henry Ford for his Greenfield Village Museum. There was also a transportation hall containing old trolley cars and items from Early Dayton.
Adjacent to the historical park is a craft brewery that serves meals with servers in historical garb. We went on a weekday, but still had about a 15 minute wait to be seated, so be aware that it is likely especially busy on Weekends.

By Brenda S |

I live in this area - it took me so long to go to this. Actually I only went because I received a free ticket at a business networking event a couple of years ago. Since then I've been back many times. I always take out of town family and friends so they can truly appreciate all the innovation that Dayton has in it's history. Don't miss the printing demonstrations, the Wright Brother's Plane and the Brewery for lunch. The historical buildings are all wonderfully preserved and of special interest is the transportation building and the buildings that were used for the women during the war.

I love this museum. It's great for history buffs, families or any one with an interest in Dayton Ohio. A must do.

By planterjeni |

Carillon Historical Park is located in a beautiful greenspace by the river bikeway just south of downtown. The carillon bells play every hour and are interesting to see and hear. Inside of the park there are numerous buildings to explore dealing with different aspects of Dayton's history. Many buildings have volunteer interpreters to engage guests in living history. The paths are paved, and whether it's a hot, cold or perfect day, there are plenty of places to get out of (or in to) the elements. They also have many festivals and events there, and the Christmas festival is fantastic. There is a cafe within the park, and a restaurant/brewery also on the grounds. The brewery replicates 1850's brewing techniques, and is the only one in the nation that is a brewery in a museum.

By 86MissyJ |

Wonderful park to walk around and experience history! Our favorite spot was the Wright Brothers Museum, but they have many interesting exhibits! Very enjoyable to walk around when the weather is nice.

By Kellieww |

We just happen to stay at the Marriott down the street. My cousin said to eat at the brewer but it was closed due to Covid. Thought we would stop by for a quick visit before going to the national museum of the USAF. We stayed 5 hours! It’s world class! I have an all new appreciation of Dayton’s history.

By savyshopper2 |

One of the best places to visit in the Dayton area whether alone or with others! It's fun, informative, and a very pleasant experience walking from area to area. Highly recommend it as an outing time and time again. Never gets old!

By SheLovesWine |

I took a group of 13 seniors here. We had an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable and personable. The “village” is beautifully done - tour was very enjoyable. Restaurant and Brew Pub on site.

By RThurber |

We came here for a special event, Makers' Market. There were multiple booth with lots of interesting things. The park provides a history of Dayton, OH in manufacturing. Very educational.

By greg b |

we were very pleased with the time spent here it has been awhile since we were last there, they have really added a lot and there is a wealth of history on display for all to see and learn from, we will be going back

By Mmagoo13 |

We went there for a night time visit during their special event A Carillon Christmas. It was a great time walking around the park with all the lights and we got a special treat as it decided to snow that night. I would strongly recommend seeing this event even when its not snowing.

By Mardi H |

Nice park with interesting exhibits. Should be on the to-do list if you go to Dayton. I suggest setting up a Hawthorn Hill House tour only if you have lots of time as that takes two hours. Good restaurant on premises.

By jamescK5741KU |

Very nice museum that takes you back in time as you visit the different displays and buildings on the grounds.

By axm |

I really enjoyed the Wright Brothers exhibit. Lots of artifacts including 2 original Wright Brothers bicycles, and Wright Flyer III. I really enjoyed that exhibit. The other builidings in the park were fun too.

By travellintheusa |

Sooo many NCR cash registers that all look like works of art instead of store machines. Beautiful carousel that was nostalgic to ride. Outdoor buildings are all staffed by knowledgeable guides in period costume. Lots of train cars and Wright Brothers memorabilia. Fun informative visit !!

By Amays85 |

Nice area to hang out in for a day. Good restaurant with a nice brewery. Nice amount of Dayton history.

By AviatorMat |

Came to Carillon park mainly for the Wright Brothers but learned a lot more through all the other buildings. I would recommend spending at least 3 hours if not more. The Print Shop was interesting and an older gentleman talked to us for 15 minutes and learned a lot about the printing press history. He was soft spoken and if I could remember his name, would give him praise. In the Print Shop they give you a free stamp to take home.

The only negative was the food shop, they were very slow at serving the food.

By punky |

The historical exhibits are interesting and full of information. You can go at your own pace. There are volunteers and staff available to answer questions. There is a gift shop with fun and educational souvenirs. Multiple restaurants are present, including the Carillon Brewery and Culp’s Cafe. They host special events throughout the year. The Carillon bells chime at specific times. A train ride exhibit just opened Memorial Day weekend 2023.

By jettan |

This outstanding museum offers something for everyone, from the indoor exhibits touting the NCR cash registers to the carousel for children to the gift shop in the main building. Once you have walked through the exhibits, continue your journey by taking the path to the one-room schoolhouse, the Newcom Tavern and all the other wonderful buildings housing transportation, a retrospective on the 1913 flood, and so much more. The display of the Wright brothers airplane is one more reason to plan a half-day to day-long trip. If you are lucky enough to arrive on a Sunday, you may take in the Clodhoppers playing an old-fashioned baseball game. Stop by the Brewery to see how beer was made in 1850, stay for lunch, and sample four of the brews with a flight. Although geared to those interested in the displays, there is room for children to run and an adventure playground on the hill, as well as walking trails.

By Robyn K |

what a unique experience! I recommend it. There are festivals here plus just interesting things to check out.

By Judy D |

We were surprised how interesting this place was. There are a lot of area buildings of interest that have been moved to this location. I spent a lot of time in "The garage" which I found interesting for the story of the self starting car (getting rid of the crank) and the model something2000, a payroll system, which the company produced as a product for over 50 years in individual pieces across the entire back wall. There's information about the self starting car it in the main building along with the Cadillac model it was first installed in too. We saw the original Wright Flyer III that Orville helped restore along with bike shop information. Saw the WAVEs cabin which interesting. We also went down to look at the trains and trolleys. That was just the tip of the iceberg. We skipped a bunch of stuff too. We ate at the brewery for lunch and my husband loved watching them stoke the fires for brewing.

By jalexander01 |

Great place to visit. Will go again. Nice and friendly staff and quite a few interesting exibits. :-)

By danaraybrandt7 |

A nice clean park. Lots of history especially about Dayton. We even got to see a bald eagle in her nest. I would definitely go when it’s warm . Easy to get to from I 75. Friendly staff. It was interesting to see some of the old computers and all types of cash registers .

By EBPandDSP |

This park has been around forever and was always interesting, but just gets better with age. Around the turn of the 19th century, Dayton had more registered invention patents than anywhere else in the world. It was the Silicon Valley of that era. In Carillon Park, you can see why. Lots of interesting exhibits for all ages in a lovely setting. Take the family to the brew pub for lunch or dinner: also a very interesting site with good food and a warm welcome.

By James H |

For anyone interested in how powered heavier-than-air aircraft were developed, the Carillon Historical Park is a must see. It tells the story of the Wright brothers and their experiments that led up to the first powered, man controlled aircraft. It has an actual 1905 Wright Flyer III aircraft on display. It also tells the story of other inventors in the Dayton area that helped contribute to the rapid development of powered flight as well as other areas, such as cash registers, automotive parts (electric self starter), and aircraft engines. Wear comfortable shoes and ask the information desk to play your favorite song on the Carillon bells. There are staff members available to explain more about the displays. Don't miss the animatronic program where famous people from the Dayton area seem to "come alive" to tell about their accomplishments.

By wandererchronicles |

The museum in the main building is neat and the merry-go-round is gorgeous.

Be sure to visit the bicycle shop at the back of the property; we were given a tour by a delightful older man who was a mine of information. Wandering through the bicycle shop and learning about the wright brothers was neat but getting to see an original of one of their first designs was really amazing.

The grounds are beautiful as well so it's best to visit on a nice day so that you can enjoy a wander around outside.

By Galen P |

Carillon Historical Park presents facts about background and development of Dayton, Ohio. A LOT of the items we use everyday were invented in Dayton = the Cash Register, the Pull Tab Top, the Automobile Electric Starter, and a little thing called the Aeroplane. Carillon Park presents all these, and more, in a nice village atmosphere, using modern technology. Good entrance price. Wear good shoes (walking is pretty easy), bring your camera and extra batteries. There is a pretty good snack bar with reasonable prices. Most of the buildings are air conditioned, but be prepared if the weather is hot and humid. FREE parking when we visited!

By Patrick R |

Parked here to access the Great Miami River Trail. We saw nesting bald eagles just south of the park. Later enjoyed a pleasant outdoor lunch at the Carillon Brewery on site. Very nice place to visit!

By Carol S |

Carillon Historic Park was informative about the inventors from the Dayton area, including the Wright Brothers and John Henry Patterson who started the National Cash Register Company. It is a village of houses and buildings with cars, buses, train cars, a building bout printing, and guides to help share the history. We spent about 4 hours and could have spent more time. Being originally from Ohio, it was interesting to learn more about our state's people and their impact.

By Margaret |

This is an absolute must-do in Dayton. Despite having lived in SW Ohio for years, I never fully appreciated the richness of Dayton’s until I visited this park.

Carillon is reminiscent of Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village in Michigan, but with an emphasis on Dayton history. There are a number of museums, exhibits, and historical buildings to explore. My favorite part of the park is the Wright Brothers museum, which houses the actual Wright Flyer III. There are also a couple of dining options on-site. I haven’t eaten at the brewery yet, but I’ve heard great things!

I was so enamored by this park during my first visit in December that I became a Dayton History subscriber. Suffice it to say, I will be back soon and often!

By Barbara C |

This is the place that my husband proposed marriage to me. This park has always been special to me. Even though I have not lived in Dayton for 44 years, I love going back to visit this park whenever I visit Dayton.

By Nancy S |

This is a really nice outdoor history park with 20 different preserved buildings with exhibits. We specifically were there for the Wright Brothers hall. In it is the 1905 flyer with a very knowledgeable docent who can answer any questions about it. There is also a replica of the last bicycle shop they rented as well as the back workshop where they began their work on their first aeroplanes. You can also take a tour of their home from this park. Prices are good and gift shop is nice.

By dehuma |

Great park and Dayton historical center. Well worth the $12 adult admission. John the dossier in the Wright Bros. Museum was incredibly knowledgeable.

By Alison Hendriks |

Beautiful park! Well maintained We did the tour of the house. It is informative and fun. There is a beautiful cafe. I enjoyed the decoration and food!

By Anita E |

This park is open 9-5 and I would recommend spending the whole day here. The park has a walk between buildings that is just over a mile in distance. The buildings are mini museums or displays of important businesses that began in Dayton, inventions in Dayton, transportation, historic events like the flood and even an original schoolhouse and homes of early citizens. Dayton has done it right to bring all these pieces of history in one location.
There is a National Park Museum for the Wright brothers in one building marked the bicycle shop. Between the buildings are picnic areas with shade to take a break, a play area with a tube slide for children, a restaurant and the carillon bell’s monument which plays every 15 minutes. Some areas have staff who will discuss the history, others are learn on your own.
We did not eat at the restaurant on-site, but at the brewery that is adjacent to the entrance building. The brewery food choices include German entrees-bratwurst, snichtzel, pretzel with beer cheese and great German potatoe Salad. Beers are all made at the brewery and you can choose a flight to try several.
Admission prices were very reasonable and we all left with a much broader appreciation of the history of Dayton.

By CharleneF4 |

At Christmas, the bell tower is covered in lights to look like a Christmas Tree. You can see it towering in the sky line. There is a museum, time period houses and buildings to tour and enjoy. There was a an antique car show when we were there last September. the Wright Brothers history is on display here also.

By E Logan |

We went to see the Wright Flyer - which gave goosebumps, really - so awesome that the real thing has been so well preserved. We got there late, so didn't have time to see other exhibits in the park, but wish we had. The park was walkable, accessible, beautifully landscaped - and all the exhibits looked intriguing. Definitely worth the price of admission!

By MomofAPN |

We stopped here on our road trip because of the great reviews and where not disappointed. What a wonderful place! You can easily spend a day. Very interesting exhibits, a train ride and some costumed interpreters. Seeing the Wright brothers‘ plane was fantastic.

By coaster05 |

My wife and I travel a lot to a variety of different attractions. Somehow even after all the museums we have been to we had never heard of this until researching new things to do in Ohio. All of the park is awesome, from the Wright Bros flyer, to the exhibits when you first come in, and all the historic buildings in between. The 8.00 price is one of the best bargains I have ever seen at an attraction of this size. It may have taken me 45 years to "find" this place, but it won't take many to return.

By C0neman |

This is a great place to go and learn about all the inventions and creations that have occurred in Dayton Ohio. It has everything from the beginning of the first registers from NCR to the invention of the pull tab. It also has several historical buildings that you can go through. In addition there is an area for the kids that has a merry go round and a toy train that the kids can push buttons to see how it works. Great place to go to for a relaxing day in Dayton Ohio!

By Doug H |

A very well done glimpse into the history and heritage of Dayton. My highlight was the space dedicated to the Wright Brothers, especially their 1905 plane.

I would recommend this place to anyone, but be prepared to walk.

By Nancy P |

We went to see the Eagles who reside in Carillon Park. It was an awesome experience. We saw the mama eagle sitting on the side of the nest then the papa eagle came flying in with a big fish for them. God's nature is the Best. We will be going back soon to see them again before they fledge then tour the buildings there.

By bob_mu_grad |

I lived in the Dayton area (Centerville) several decades ago, but I had not been to Carillon Park. This past weekend, my family visited Carillon Park. I found it very surprisingly very interesting. While the history of Dayton to someone not from there may sound boring, Dayton really has a fascinating past. I learned so much about Dayton and its history -- the Great Flood of 1913, the innovation of people like Kettering and the Wright Brothers, and the forward thinking business mind of Patterson. The combination of artifacts, buildings, and information at Carillon Park made for a very educational experience. I highly recommend this to everyone.

By Martin H |

This museum is all about Dayton, Ohio inventors and innovators. It is especially noted for having the 1905 Wright brothers flyer and a reproduction of their bicycle shop. The park also has a nice transportation museum with a number of old railroad cars. The grounds are especially beautiful, it makes visiting a nice stroll from building

By Smita K |

This is a beautiful park with so much history that is well preserved. I highly recommend this park for anyone who enjoys learning about Dayton's history.

By MaryandMike2008 |

Carillon Hisorical Park is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or a day with friends or familiy. The indoor museum, which can be easily accessed in winter, is a marvel and pays tribute to those whose inventions made our lives better. The Wright Brothers of course but also people who invented the electric starter for cars, the pull top on aluminum soda pop cans, and the cash register. There's even a "live" stage where these inventor "talk" to you. The walking path around the outside buildings is a pleasant way to walk back in history with the buildings these inventors actually worked in. Also, green space, a canal, a clock tower and two restaurants, plus the Carillon Tower itself which is a marvel to see and hear.

By Jostianna |

This was our first visit to this park and the weather was cold and rainy but one can imagine the beautiful surroundings this park can bring to those who visit. We ate at the restaurant on the grounds and it is well worth the visit! Great family outing on a Sunday afternoon!

By Paul E |

very nice take your family. a little warmer in the summer so it can be a little cold walking between buildings in the winter

By Pat R |

Love this park. It has beautiful grounds and sidewalks that lead to all of the buildings. Inside the buildings they have signs that tell about what you are looking at. They also explain about the dates that it occured.

By Twhatty |

After visiting the Wright Brothers Cycle complex earlier in the day, we drove to this park and arrived shortly before their published Sunday opening time of noon and were confronted with hundreds of cars already in the parking area. A volunteer told us that we were fortunate to be there for their annual model train festival. Indeed, there seemed to be model trains everywhere, especially inside the main building, where we paid our entrance fee to the park. The model trains were interesting for a while, but ultimately they seemed to hinder us from seeing some of the permanent exhibits in the main building. We did enjoy the impressive display of cash registers (Dayton was apparently home to National Cash Register Company), but we managed to entirely miss the Soapbox Derby display and the pop-top can entry into the room(s) dedicated to Dayton Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship, perhaps because those areas were obscured by all of the model train displays. The walking tour of outside buildings was occasionally interesting and we especially enjoyed the Wright Brothers exhibit(s), the building devoted to the Dayton flood of 1913 and a few other buildings. However, we went into one structure where we were invited to help turn the crank on an ice cream machine and when my wife asked when the ice cream would be ready, she was abruptly told that no ice cream would be available to the public. There are several additional buildings that deal with Dayton history, which I'm sure are a source of pride for Dayton citizens, but less interesting to tourists like ourselves. This was probably our problem and not the Park's, but we simply did not enjoy our visit as much as we expected or hoped to.

By Maura |

Carillon Park is certainly the best place in the Dayton area to visit and learn about Dayton History. Many think Dayton is only known for the Wright Brothers Aviation invention. Dayton, is actually the birth place of many inventions used and enhanced today. The collection of cash registers is breathtaking (never thought I'd say this). Our favorite time to visit is during the holiday season, when everything is decorated.

By Shelby's Honest Reviews |

Where do we start. We went to Dayton to watch our daughter compete in the Wgi World competition for color guard. That was amazing , we won 1st Place. Proud momma.
We had a break between performances and my husband found this place. We decided to give it a shot. So happy we did. There is so much history, artifacts, things to see, even a carousel that you can ride. Only $1.00 to ride.
We only had a few hours but we were so impressed we left to go to the completion and came back for an hour before they closed. We loved it.it was only $8.00 to get in and a look worth it.
There is a cafe and plenty to see. This is a MUST see in Dayton.

By homanjim |

There is so much to see & do at the Carillon Historical Park! You can a walk through Dayton history, and if that is not enough to tickle your fancy, the complex hosts an impressive museum dedicated to the Wright Brothers, Orville & Wilbur!

By esprouls47 |

We went here primarily to see the Model III Wright Brothers plane. A volunteer there gave us all kinds of information. Worth the price of admission alone which was reasonable. Nice displays in the entrance pavilion and the other buildings we visited were also interesting.

By Dan1229 |

History of manufacturing & industry of Dayto fro late 1800’s to present. Founding fathers prominently displayed. History of the region displayed in text, video, & photos. 1913 flood & lock, dam, reservoir implementation depicted & explained.

By Darcy M |

This park is very diverse and unique . We started off our tour by watching an animatronic history of Daytona area businesses and events. We loved the one of a kind carousel! The day was perfect for touring the grounds since you have to walk from building to building. There was such a variety of interests and items. We especially enjoyed going through the Wright Brothers Aviation Center. Mike, a volunteer, was a fantastic guide and gave us an in depth tour of the facility. We enjoyed walking through the restored train cars and transportation building. We saw the Eagles in their nest and saw the water level from the great flood of 1913.
I loved the penny machine and took home some souvenirs from our visit. Unfortunately, we were limited on time. We would have had no trouble spending the entire day, learning about such a wide variety of history.
Carillon Park disguises learning and makes it fun and enjoyable!

By jeffcaldwell230 |

You want to talk about some important American history? Look no further than Dayton Ohio. What a rich heritage. And amazing facility for all ages. You owe it to yourself to take a day at Carillon Park. The displays are beautiful. The animatronic theater is like listening to the real inventors speak. Many interactive features. Culps Cafe is like dining in the 50's. Enjoy.

By 243DLP |

This is a great place to visit with both indoor and outdoor things to see and do. Unfortunately, we were there on a rainy day and also the park was going through renovations so we didn't get to try the cafe or the brewery. What was open was very interesting and informative. We enjoyed the museum with the exhibits and museum store, and the Wright Brothers National Museum which houses the Wright Flyer III. There are other buildings on the property, but because of the rain, we opted not to visit them this time. There are guides at the buildings to give you more information if you'd like. We will be back in better weather when more things are open.

By Dewayne P |

This was a neat place to visit, probably my favorite stop in Dayton. There is plenty of free parking and a nominal, $12 fee for adults to enter. They have exhibits inside the main visitor's center to include an old carousel and countless cash registers. Outside are a number of buildings from the later 18th Century to the 19th Century, replicas, originals, period interpreters performing tasks such as woodwork and of course the Wright Brother's original 1905 plan housed in Wright Hall. I took a docent led tour from John - who was phenomenal by the way - who brought me on a journey from their early life all the way through post-death, talked about the various artifacts in the museum, and provided some humor along the way. Worth going to see.

By midnitefrog |

This is a great activity for the whole family. In depth history for history buffs. Trains and fun things for the kids. An easy stroll through the grounds. There is something for everyone. Great job in the main museum area with animatronics. And a carousel everyone loves to go for a ride. Spend a few hours or spend the day. There is a cafe and ice cream shop as well. Indoor and outdoor activities.

By Annie O |

Never have I quite seen the likes of this park. Bits and Bobs of history all within walking distance. The Wright Brothers plane III is located in one building, Buses, trains located on a round house, Automobiles displayed in Sales floor settings, and the list goes on. Located with in the sound of a Carrollin are various other buildings, School House, Clock Tower, Homes, and other structures moved to this site.

By michael m |

from the collection of cash registers from NCR to the Wright Brothers bicycle shop, there are so many things to see. Old locomotives, old cars, old bicycles, a little bit of everything. And then there is the giant bell tower!

By Sojournwithme |

My wife and I moved to the Dayton area in 2014. We had heard of Carillon park but never ventured there. My admonishment to you is to not hesitate, go to Carillon park! The grounds are attractive and the museum is fascinating. The buildings on the grounds represent a turn of the century village and reflect the inventions of the time. Bicycles, trains, food, floods, and more. We also enjoyed a short hike in the grounds through the woods and by the old sanitarium. The restaurant/brewhouse on the grounds offers authentic food and is itself a fascinating museum installment.

By Mortgageman9000 |

A great way to celebrate a birthday. Thoroughly enjoyed the many exhibits and makes you proud of the ingenuity and creative aspect of Dayton elite. Wright Brothers were truly amazing individuals.

By Michael H |

Carillon Bell Tower at Christmas time is Beautiful. I recommend getting out of your vehicle to take some nice pictures of the lights.

By Rebecca R |

Visited with kiddos and learned a ton about Dayto history and had loads of fun. Staff very helpful and knowledgeable as well.

By John V |

Visited Carillon Historical Park for a few hours to see what it was about. Lots of history about industry in Dayton that goes back in the past. It was created by the one time head of National Cash Register and you will find a great collection of mechanical cash registers. You can spend lots of time in the main building.

Our main intent was to explore more about the Wright brothers and the National Historic Museum where the Wright Brothers Flyer from 1905 is stored. Spend most of our time there learning about the achievements they made. The rebuilt plane there contains 80% of the original plane parts.

By TripPhotographer52 |

I have checked out the many historical places at Carillon Park but wanted to write about a wonderful annual event here in mid May, the Fleur de Fete. For many years, a group has put on a wine festival, with more and more restaurant participation and beer offerings. Many and many wine tastings are offered in a tented setting in case of rain. It seems like the crowds get larger each year. They also have been offering beer tastings for several years. You also get to keep a wine glass and beer glass as a souvenir. My wife and I and some friends went to the Fleur de Fete this year despite the chance of rain, and things were great. We got to enjoy about 2 hours (it is held from 1 to 4 pm) with plenty have tasted and eaten before we left, before the rains came. We also got to see other friends that attended. The net proceeds go to charities. A great event, year after year.

By grannyr0sie |

We visited Carillon Park during the holidays with our family and grand kids. The holiday decorations were beautiful and the songs from the bells added to the fun. We rode the carousel with our grandson and he and his dad rode the train. We all enjoyed the hayride. It was especially nice to watch the movie to remind us about Dayton's place in history with so many innovations. We plan to return during the day to spend more time exploring the many different exhibits.

By pamcatznfish |

The exhibits are excellent! I wasn't expecting to see so many historical buildings and actual products invented in Dayton. It was fascinating seeing how the inventors started in a barn and what they accomplished. The setting is beautiful and made the experience very pleasant. We saw a lot of families with children who were having a good time. The restrooms are convenient and there are places to eat. Any Daytonian should be very proud of the inventions and innovations that occurred here! We especially enjoyed visiting at Christmas, with extras such as carolers in period costume, freshly baked gingerbread cookies, hot apple cider, puppet show, and Santa!

By Tom I |

The variety of exhibits and structures will satisfy anyone of all ages. The museum goes on for hours of buildings which hold exhibits of Dayton and the US history. The Wright Brothers plane is the holy grail of the Park, but there is so much else to see and enjoy that it takes a full afternoon to take it all in. One of the best museums I have been to.

By Don B |

We bought a family membership for the year, because we expect to return to view the local eagles nest. But we did stop in to a couple of the historic displays and were very impressed. We will be returning frequently as the year goes by. We also heard many good comments from friends once we mentioned our visit. We're looking forward to seeing how the venue varies through the seasons.

By Bob S |

Anyone interested in the history surrounding the City of Dayton area needs to spend a day touring all the exhibits provided at the Carillon Historical Park. Must see includes the Wright Brothers and historical transportation exhibits.

By T J P |

If you are into trains, bicycles, merry go rounds, or cash registers, this a a great place to accumulate some background and history.

By Janice R |

Who knew Dayton was the home to so much interesting history. Did you know that in the hey day of bicycles that Dayton had over 1,000 shops? You can see a part of the Erie Canal here -- the Wright Bros. plane that flew at Kitty Hawk, a 1950s bus, and a horse and buggy that used to deliver mail. FInanced by the owner of NCR, this is a must-do while in Dayton. We spent almost a whole day going through the buildings, listening to the docents and watching demonstrations. Loved the day!

By Jeff W |

We went for the Concours d'Elegance car show this year. We have a family membership because we really love this place. The car show was fantastic. The history captured and presented in this place is phenomenal. We have been bringing our children here since they were 7 years old (they are young teens now). There is plenty of entertainment for the young ones and lots of great displays and exhibits for the older kids.

By Stacy C |

Brought my visiting family here for an afternoon. We had the place to ourselves. Very nice layout of exhibits in the main building with a nice animatronics display with the main inventors/innovators of Dayton. Much of the museum is in smaller buildings outside so be prepared if the weather is iffy. The highlight is the Wright Flyer III, be sure to find it. Very nice gift shop also.

By DLP |

This is an amazing place and a history lovers dream! There is so much to learn and this place teaches it in a fun and interactive way. The cash register exhibit is cool and everyone should watch the animatronic show that explains the role Dayton played in modern industry. You must see the Wright Brothers’ plane, which is considered a National Monument by the National Parks Services. There are numerous buildings on the grounds to explore and learn. Take the opportunity to visit this fascinating place.

By Jeff T |

Do not miss this fabulous museum when in Dayton. You will be amazed at the historic brainpower centered in Dayton. Be thrilled seeing one of the Wright Brothers first flying machines! The grounds are beautiful and the staff wonderful.

By The5MRanch |

This is the place you want to visit if you want to actually see one of the Wright Flyers. That's the reason we went, but there are some added bonuses including the Cash Register Exhibit and the locker room for the Dayton Triangles...

By Ronald S |

Most of us know that the Wright Brothers owned a bicycle shop and created the first successful heavier than air, powered aircraft but beyond that the Carillon Historical Park has excellent displays and information of the many contributions to the transportation industry that originated in Dayton. The grounds are magnificent and the buildings well maintained. Volunteers provide information and guidance. Very educational and interesting place.

By Mark E |

Visited the park while visiting with some friends in Ohio, The park consists of approximately 30 plus buildings/sites that cover the industrial and social history of Dayton Ohio. I was surprised at how this city contributed to the industrial age of North America. It was the headquarters for National Cash Register.It also had great influence on the early auto industry. There was a working printing press.
It covered the great flood of 1913 that took many lives. Very interesting exhibit.
What really surprised me was the Wright Bros National Museum. They did all thehir planning and construction in Dayton. Kitty Hawk was only where they test flew their first prototype plane. We were fortunate enough to have a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who was able to answer all our questions about the Wright bros.
It was any enjoyable and interesting day.

By HansLudwig2014 |

Have been to the Carillon Historical Park several times; always bring visiting family & friends to this place...it is new and amazing to them... and yet it remains still amazing to me as well.
Free parking... There is a modest entrance fee (they have senior discounts)... when entering... one is in awe with the impact NCR (National Cash Register) had on this once very thriving landmark of a town. Before you meander outside via the fabulous carouselarea, you must see the anamactronic presentation with Deed, Patterson, the Wright Brothers, and Kettering. Excellent overview of contributions to science & society not just for the USA that Dayton has made.
What amazes most is that Dayton was the birthplace of so many inventions & innovations; electric starter, aeronautics, ...even the flip top cans to just mention a few.
Next, step outside and see & feel a time gone by; from frontier days to the 1950's. Meander outside from building to building ... witness the great flood of 1913.... visit the replica bike shop of the Wright Brothers (Henry Ford too the original to Michigan)...and of major historical significance is an original flying machine of the Wright Brothers.
Enjoy---- Learning Dayton History is Fun Here.

By Debbie |

Got a real feel for the history of Dayton by visiting this park. Lots of separate buildings to go into. Don't miss the Wright Brothers museum with a replica of their plane - Orville oversaw the building of this replica, so it is very precise and has some of the original parts. Brewery onsite has a great lunch (and beer!) while also playing its part in history. Greatly enjoyed the NCR exhibits also.

By Ekehl |

This rates as one of our favorite experiences. We spent almost all day here. We never knew Dayton had such a history of invention and business. I think we viewed all of the displays in the hall and visited all of the buildings. We liked that there were guides throughout the park to explain exhibits. We learned more than we anticipated and found it all interesting. It was a lovely day so it made it nice to be outdoors.

By Rick |

A very informative and well laid out history of Dayton and the Miami Valley. Interesting and interactive displays will entertain and inform the whole family. Definitely a must when in the Dayton area.

By Katie M |

Great place to wonder and learn about Dayton and the Industrial Age! Lots of great hands on things and interesting exhibits. Well worth the entrance fee.

By joseph K |

My adult son and i had a few hours to kill on a weekend visit to Dayton. Our primary desire was to see an early wright plane. We easily used up about 3 hours and did not see half of the buildings or exhibits. Very well maintained. A great value!

By castanea |

Some fantastic buildings dotted around a delightful parkland, including a museum for transport, the Wright Brothers bicycle shop, and loads of information on NCR company!

By lela_bshaw |

This is a very unexpected place—the history here is interesting—kids will love the train and old school house—stuff for older kids too—there is even a brewery on property—not to mention the bells!

By Martha E |

Outdoor walking exhibits of pioneer homes up to turn of the century businesses ( Wright Brothers, Delco, NCR). Clearly Dayton was the Silicon Valley of the early 1900’s!

By Britton G |

I've visited Carillon with family and friends. The history of Dayton is presented in a fun & rememberable way, while not being overwhelming. Dayton is truly a great city that does not get the credit it deserves. You'll be amazed by what you'll learn here.
The carousel is unique and adorned with 'rides' representing Dayton. The outside is a replica of homes & stores in that area from the age of the Wright Brothers. You and your family will not be disappointed.

By Nathan J |

What a great gem! We learned so much about Dayton and it’s history. I was thoroughly surprised at how much Dayton gets credit for inventing or being home to. Best surprise of all was seeing an original Wright Bros. plane. Highly recommend spending some time here if in Dayton. Don’t miss the attached restaurant either.

By Lindakitchen8 |

If you want to see a great place, stop here. It’s really laid out nicely and set back in 1900’s. The Wilbur and Orville Wright first plane, the Wright Flyer III, is on display!! So glad we got to see it! They had an old printing shop, transportation, buses, trains, just the way life was back then. The Carillon Bells were a beautiful sound! We went through the NCR (National Cash Register)museum. We also ate lunch at the Brewery On the same grounds. We spent almost the whole day there.
We would love to come back here so see more!

By Eleanor B |

i loved it, there was so many things to see! I learned a lot. it was very fun and there was lots of room. you played while you learned. it was fabulous. me and my family have gone like 9 times we liked it so much!

By ILoveTexas |

I couldn’t believe how great this was. We were visiting the Aviation Heritage Museum and one of the staff suggested also visiting Carillon Park. We had some extra time so we decided to check it out and were so glad we did. It’s a beautiful park with superb historical exhibits inside and out. I would love to go back and see it again. The staff was very courteous and helpful, and there are two restaurants onsite. Dayton is awesome!

By Kelly PenaR |

We are on a summer educational exchange, and we were there with all our teenager students. I can say that Carillon park has something for everybody. Staff are really committed to give you the best experience while you're visiting. You can find the whole history about the Wright Brothers and what they did. It's amazing. Don't forget to bring a good sunscreen because you'll be walking around in open spaces. I had a great time.

By janmonahan |

My husband's first job out of college was at NCR. We were really interested in all the old cash registers they had. There is so much to learn there. I think kids might find it boring.

By Briansc |

Spent an afternoon touring all the sites and venues at this park. There is a charge but it is well worth it. Very well put together displays and interesting items. Not only is there alot to see, but alot of history to learn here about Dayton and its industry. You need at least 4 hours to see everything and more if you want to get in depth. Two onsite locations to eat here also. Many buildings to tour with local artifacts and machinery, a Wright brothers display and more.

By Sandy R |

Went here primarily to see the authentic Wright Flyer but also found many other interesting things to look at. Enjoyed the historical bicycles, learning about the barn gang and all the inventions that had origins in Dayton, to name a few. Be sure to go to the right side of the gift shop so you don’t miss all the displays in the main building. (I went to the left side of the gift shop and would of missed them all if one the tour guides hadn’t asked me if I saw the displays). Enjoyed the guided tour through the building with the Wright flyer by the volunteer. I would recommend visiting Carillon Park.

By delily |

The inside of the main building was filled with displays. Outside the back door were all kinds of historic structures which told the story of Dayton's innovation and its iconic inventors. We stepped inside and old tavern and were amazed to think that this was the type of place people gathered for a meal or a spot to spend the night. We had a nice lunch on site and also took a tour of the Wright home which starts from here. It was a great place to spend a day. To see it all you do need to allow a day. There is a bit of walking outdoors but taking our time, even the older folks in our group did fine.

By LV-from-Cincy |

A combo park and historical museum. Tickets are required for entry to the museum. It's a great stroll through historical buildings with period pieces arranged by theme. The best one is the building devoted to the Wright Brothers which has a part of the first of the planes they built. Also, don't forget to climb the tower for a good view.

By Kim F |

A wonderful family activity or an interesting first date! There is so much to see and learn. I Would almost say that 2 visits are needed to thoroughly appreciate all that the park has to offer.

By Anthony S |

Very unique wright brothers bicycle shop. First flight aiiplne exhibit complete small town. Very well done. German fest been also. Family oriented ..

By 2014vacation2014 |

There is something to do for all ages. Had a lot of interesting information about Dayton OH inventions. I was quite surprised on how much there was to learn. They also have an amazing Christmas light display.

By Joanie4875 |

We have grown up in the Dayton, Ohio area and have visited Carrilon Park since we were children. The park is located just feet from the Miami river. When my husband and I had the chance to meet up with an old school mate to explore all the new additions to the Park. We knew it would be worthwhile. There are several noteworthy exhibits that are related to the history of Dayton and the surrounding area. Much of the park is built from historic buildings that have been moved here making room for newer structures around Dayton. There are some interactive venues that give exlaination to what you are viewing. There are references to the Great Flood, the Automotive industry, NCR and the relation to the War effort in the 1940’s. The Steam generators developed here, and the Wright Brothers Bicycle shop. There are open picnic areas for families. A working carousel is also housed on the property which you can ride for one dollar. There are several areas that allow you to sit and rest. It is completely accessible by wheelchair. You can dine at the Copes Cafeteria or the Dayton Bewery adjacent to the gift shop. The Dayton Brewery offers delicious German cuisine reflecting on many immigrants who settled early in Dayton’s history. The Carrillon Tower is a site in itself. The bells toll the time of day. It is a beautiful walking park and good for families. The cost of admission is minimal.
If in Dayton it is well worth visiting.

By jillikin |

Carillon is such an amazing place! We loved everything about it! Each building and exhibit is so well done. Dayton is the home of so much innovation of historical significance and Carillon is home to so much of it. This place is a must see!

By Stuart_Away_Again |

We were lucky to visit just after Thanksgiving so the park was decorated for the holiday season. Comprehensive selection of original and relocated buildings tracing the history of Dayton and its famous sons and daughters. Highlight was the Wright Flyer and the clock tower. Didn’t have a chance to use the restaurant but it also looked good.

By Jo_and_Tom |

My wife and I had always wanted to visit Carillon Park which is 50 minutes drive in Dayton. We finally made the trip yesterday. The drive wasn't bad and we missed a backup on I75 ( 30 minute) by leaving later in morning. A Tuesday in July wasn't very busy, plenty of parking but couple of things closed. The kids train is getting repaired and the Brewery (Sour Beer type) is closed on Monday & Tuesday. Everything else was open. The various buildings and exhibitions are very interesting covering Dayton's Industrial history, the importance of Bicycles and Car improvement, NCR's cash registers as well as other tech improvements, Wright Brothers, the 1913 Flood and various other areas. In many of the buildings that have volunteers who explain the history and stories of the building. There are several theatres with 10-15 minute presentations scattered throughout . Good place to visit and dependent on the ages of children, they may enjoy. We even road the Carosel which I hadn't been on since Cedar Point in 1960s.

By Marcia F |

Carillon Historical Park was a destination to continue our visits on the Aviation Heritage National Historical Trail following the story of the Wright brothers and family. Their exhibits are very relevant and well done! An entire building showcases the Wright brothers original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane and a National Historical Landmark. We had an excellent meal at the Carillon Brewing Company where in addition to great food there were demonstrations of mid-19th century brewing methods.

By jlsitler17 |

Wonderful place to spend a few hours. Walking around taking in local and state and national history.

By lisa m |

Beautiful quaint museum highlighting the Wright Bros. development of the first airplane and many other exhibits

By Tom P |

From the lifelike mannequins at the entrance to the carousel - to the movies on the history of invention - and the steam engine - the Wright Bldg - print shop - historic buildings and the miniature railroad - what more could one want for a family? Food and a gift shop? They’ve got that too. A phenomenal experience!

By Have Camera, Will Travel |

I love places like this. I'm big into history and when a city makes a historical park like this, I could spend all day there. It is similar to what Greenfield Village up in Dearborn, MI is. A collection of historical structures assembled in one location to be preserved. They have done a great job.

My highlights were the Wright Brothers Museum and the Wright Flyer III, the Dayton Flood building, the Steam Engine, the School House and the Main Building. The train was not running on a weekday in September (out of season) and the small cafe building was closed for the season, but there is a lot of picnic areas. There is a decent gift shop.

There is a lot to enjoy here.

By j_wenner |

On Saturday 5/1, we went to the Carillon Historical Park. We happened to find this treasure by googling places to visit while in the Dayton, Ohio area. This is a great place to visit. It has a museum and various historical buildings that you can walk to on site. The greatest find in this place was the Wright Brothers National Museum! This museum should be the main attraction at this historical park, but it is hardly mentioned at all on their website. The Wright Brothers National Museum tour guide was very knowledgeable! I would recommend this historical park to everyone in the Dayton, Ohio area.

By Deanna B |

I took my parents here for moms birthday. We all loved it!! The have great volunteers that explain about each exhibit if you want them to. Have a lot of Write brother stuff. Nice carousel to ride. Right now they have a nice gangster display. It’s a museum about things made in Dayton, like cash registers. We didn’t know how many things were made in Dayton years ago. We are not from Dayton but really enjoyed it

By Scott P |

We very much enjoyed our stay here, coming primarily for the Wright brothers' flyer and section, but enjoying the other displays and the grounds, which were decorated for Christmas. Great for families or for casual strolling and exploring.

By Rosie R |

Excellent place to spend an easy 1/2 day, then finish it off with a great meal at the restaurant/brewery on property. the meal was excellent.

By cincysb |

I have lived in Cincinnati my whole life, but visited Carillon for the first time last Fall. I was surprised by how much I LOVED the visit. It was a great mix of engaging for the kids and educational for me too. I loved being able to wander between the buildings and take our time while doing so. I was really surprised how much fun we had - we ended up staying way longer than planned. Staff was amazing too.

By MNDoodles |

This beautiful open-air park with its historic buildings, the original Wright flyer 3, and numerous great historic collections inside the buildings was a fantastic and fun experience for my husband and me. The volunteer interpretive guides were THE BEST we’ve encountered anywhere, and elevated the experience to excellent. We loved the transportation building with gorgeous restored trolley and rail cars, the oldest locomotive in the US and more. The printing press building is awesome. You can buy great paper items printed there for bargain basement prices and the Wright Flyer 3 is amazing to see in-person. We loved this place; spent 4 hours and could easily have spent more time had schedules allowed. We classify this as a must-see site when in Dayton.

By kathiev_13 |

We actually went here twice and didn’t see everything. There is so much information on Dayton and people who lived here. Who knew how many inventions were developed here, we didn’t. My favorite was the Wright Bros Bike Shop. Both of the tour guides were excellent! Thanks to John and Bob for bringing history to life and making it interesting.

By VetteGirl6Xs |

One of my friends got married and reception at The Brewery. Food was pretty good. Service was good.
I have been there for dinner with friends and it was pretty good. Beers not bad either.

By 2doglady |

Reading the website about Carillon Park left us unsure what to expect. It sounded like a real hodgepodge of things to see. But we decided to give it a try. And we are so glad we did. We rode the train first to get an idea of the park, then went to see what we had time for. The Wright Hall is so good and I would highly recommend seeing that. The many cash registers were amazing to see, and the carousel is delightful. We were surprised that it was not more crowded since we were there on a Saturday. The grounds here are lovely, the displays are well done, and the staff here very pleasant and helpful. There was a gentleman in Wright Hall that was very interesting to listen to and he helped us learn so much more. We spent about 3 hours here. There are eating places in the park that might be helpful to know. We tried the Carillon Brewery and enjoyed that very much. Recommend a stop at Carillon Park!

By Keithcu |

The Wright Brothers? Yes, those guys did some enduring, history-worthy stuff. But what about the rest of this stuff? I spent my childhood going to Carillon Park and it seemed a little dated even then. 30 years later, the foundation has spruced up the place, built new buildings, and added a whole museum. What it couldn't do, however, was update the accomplishments of Daytonians. Like the antiquated "4D theater," all of the inventions heralded in in the historical park are now sadly obsolete. Except for those brothers with the airplane. We'll always have that.

By Mike Austing |

Wife and I visited here a few years ago. I grew up in Dayton/Huber Heights, OH in the '50s and '60s and the Park was always a great place to visit!

By ahsge |

Carillon Park tells the story of Dayton history in an active way. Real buildings from history, real work being done in some places, a lovely day out. During Christmas it decked out and wonderful, but it is a treat any time. Good lunches are available on site with two good choices, the Brewery or Culp's. If you visit Dayton and enjoy learning about the places you visit, stop here.

By Chris W |

This park offers a lot of educational history for both adults and children alike. The grounds are always immaculate. Love coming here and taking my Dog across the street to walk along the river trail.

By Pulmbubble |

There are indoor and outdoor area. The indoor area has full history and display of the industry in the city. And the outdoor area has different people’s house and can visit in. Make sure visit the write brother bike store, there is a 1:1 first flight plane there. Make sure has plenty of time to visit.

By Elaine E |

While the main building has some interesting items and the volunteers were very helpful, NOWHERE did it say that the other buildings could only be reached by walking. Due to age and health conditions, we were not able to walk the long distances between them and so we only got to view the main exhibit.

By Bob S |

We were here a few years ago but didn't get to see all the attractions. This time we took the full tour and it was well worth it. There is a fairly extensive indoor museum dedicated to the Dayton area and a number of outside buildings. Allow 2 to 3 hours to see it all. It was an eye-opening experience to see how prominent Dayton was 100 years ago. Much of that glamour is gone now but the museum has captured a great deal of it. A "must see" for history buffs. A snack shop on site sells burgers and such.

By CathyG S |

This is a wonderful historical place to tour! The volunteers gave fantastic tours. Educational & interesting. Displays of all the inventions made in Dayton. Great tours for school children. We enjoyed seeing the cash registers, auto museum, Wright brothers museum=so many things to see. We may be retired but it was fun to ride the old carousel! Plus seeing & hearing the wonderful carillon.

By Hannah D |

Came here solo this afternoon. Didn’t know what to expect. Ended up spending 4 hours because it was so interesting. Lots of different buildings and things to look at. $8 admission. Would recommend to anyone. Have things for all age levels.

By Mark W |

Wonderful restaurant next to the center with waiters in period costume of 1850s, Great beer and good brats and sausages.

By RLiverm |

This place was very interesting and has lots of interesting things to see and view. They have a tour of the Wright Brothers building and plane and They have a map for you to guide you along as you go threw it. It is well set up and worth the trip to see.

By jwcorbett |

Great Saturday outing! Low cost for entry and the facilities are very well maintained. Great place to learn about the history of Dayton. Indoor and Outdoor exhibits so plan for the weather.

By Tess F |

This is a beautiful park right along the bike path. I love taking a break and listening to the bells.

By Richard H |

Dayton history told in displays, artifacts and historic buildings. Plus there are two venues for dining.

By Laurel B |

They have a special grandparents deal for an annual membership. Grandparents and all grandkids come for one price. We always have a great time there. We've been twice this week. The puppet show is very entertaining!! The show is based on Beatrix Potter's "The Taylor of Gloucester" and it is very well done.

By Ashley T |

My husband took me here during the Christmas season for a date night. It was so fun and romantic. There were Christmas light and Caralors singing. I learned how to make a cookie recipe for Molasses cookies. Such a fun and interesting place.

By Jackalie B |

If you love the history of technology, this is the place to go. Even if you don't "love" it, you will be amazed by the room of cash registers, or you can visit the locomotive barn, the carousel, or one of dozens of other attractions on the site. We visited in the afternoon and never got out of the main building. It's clean and well-run. I highly recommend a visit.

By Jeffrey L |

This is a wonderful place to visit. It actually is a small historic village with historic buildings, exhibits and nice walking grounds. There is a small cafeteria here for lunch, snacks or drinks. The best part of the village, in my opinion, was seeing the original Wright Flyer "B" plane here! It is right there in front of you. We had a very informative guide here who answered all our questions. There is also a nice, well stocked gift shop here too. Plan to spend at least 2 1/2 - 3 hours here to really enjoy the experience.

By Sheri O |

There's so much to see and do at this tribute to the people that shaped the history of Dayton. The displays range from the oldest buildings in Dayton to a replica of the Wright Brothers cycle shop. The must see is the 4D show in the main bldg. It takes you through Dayton history and the many inventions that came from Dayton. There is a carousel and train ride for the kids along with other activities. Christmas is a magical time as well with extend hours to enjoy the lights. There is a admission, check their website. This is a must see while in Dayton.

By Juanita C |

My husband John and I had a lovely day at the park 11/16/23. The weather was perfect and we were able to explore several buildings further back in the park that we hadn’t had time to explore in prior visits. We particularly enjoyed the bicycle/printing/aircraft workshop. The host was very thorough in explaining everything. The transportation building was also fun, it was nice walking through a train car and having our picture taken in front of the stagecoach by the hostess. The building with the “flood” display gave us some sad history. We hope to possibly return during the holiday season for another adventure.

By Dana B |

Carillon Park is an amazing interactive history of the Wright Brothers as well as what
the area was like in their time period. It also includes how Dayton is a city of invention and the many modern inventions we have today - were created in Dayton. It is a beautiful park and lots to do for all ages. They even have a carousel that kids can ride on inside the main building. Even the Carillon's are beautiful and play each hour. There is so much to see and do at this park, and very reasonable priced.

By IlliniHope |

While attending the National Impala Convention, we had an organized cruise to the Carillon Historical Park with a few hours to kill. It was a warm day, so we opted to check out the museum and were very impressed. Who knew that Dayton was responsible for the invention of Freon and air conditioning or that when the National Cash Register Company developed an electric starter to replace the crank on a register that the same technology would be applied to cars? We spent about two hours learning about Dayton's influence on industry in history. The museum is well staffed and well worth the admission price.

By Mary B |

The park is filled with interesting facts. I learned so much about history on my visit. Buildings were clean and staff was very friendly.

By Sandy O |

We didn't know what was all here at this park and were surprised to find out that it was more than just an inside museum. We liked learning about Dayton and the places and things that make it great during our inside visit. Outside there are buildings with Wright Brothers, school house, and so much more. Plan on spending at least 3 hours here. It is worth the money to visit and the whole family will enjoy the visit.. The sound of the carillion bells is beautiful too.

By Maleicha |

We spent about 2 hours there. It was raining. But we really enjoyed the time we spent, discovering about Dayton's history. I would recommend.

By Kberlypgh |

Fun to visit and then eat at the Brewery! And the historical part of the tour makes it totally worth the visit!

By northernk |

Had not been to the park in over 30 years, was shocked and amazed at it's growth and how awesome this place is. Wish where i lived and that every town had a place as good as this. Really brings home how many awesome things happened in the Dayton area. Not enough to have things here like the NCR registers and the Wright plane and the merry go round stuff, and the clock tower and the historic trolley cars and train and cars. The list goes on and is still growing .. plus an awesome historic print area and so many cool buildings that have been moved here. Just love it and make sure you have enough time for the visit, they also do halloween stuff and holiday stuff here i understand. Just great had so much fun hope to see it again someday and see it's growth if possible. Also the volunteer guides here are awesome and so knowledgeable. They clearly have a passion for the areas of the park they work in.

By Mortgageman9000 |

The park is known for a huge amount of historical exhibits about Dayton, but Easter Sunrise Service has been a tradition since 1942. A truly moving experience that has an long lasting calming effect. Recommend it for early risers

By jjctraveler |

A beautiful park for a warm sunny day. The Carillon is free to see, but the park has an excellent indoor museum on great people and industries of Dayton (not just the Wright Brothers). The outdoor exhibits include many historic buildings from Dayton located along paved, tree lined paths. They have a replica of the Wright Brothers bicycle shop along with the Wright Flyer III. I had a pleasant visit that lasted about 2 hours, but I wish I had allocated more time for the indoor exhibits on NCR and DELCO, which were more extensive than I had thought.

By 712vickil |

My family lives less than a mile away from Carillon Historical Park so we visit frequently. The carousel is a hit with the kids and the interactive electric train is lots of fun. It’s a great place to visit for a few hours or for the day. Check the schedule for their train that takes kids and adults around the park.

By Pathfinder802286 |

Dayton has a wealth of history in the invention/manufacturing fields. This is the place to learn about it. The grounds have over 15 various exhibits. A replica of the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop and their third airplane is a highlight.

By Chris M |

Great time with family or friends, many great things to see and great for young children and teens. You need to put this on your list for family outings

By BusinessTraveler87 |

Park was interesting and a worthwhile experience. Was a little disappointed with the construction going on and several things closed because of that but I guess it's not avoidable. I would like to visit again if ever back in the area.

By mommyrice3 |

If you have never been take the time to go & allow at least 2 hours. Enjoy all the trees and go inside every building and walk over the bridge to check out the other side after looking at the old buses. The print shop is really impressive!

By Marion O |

The tour of Orville's house Hawthorn Hill is only open Wed. and Saturdays to 14 people at a time twice a day. So, I bought our tickets online months before our trip so we didn't miss it. Plan to spend a whole day at the Carillon Park which is where you get the shuttle for the house tour. The other highlight is the Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop in the Park that houses the original Wright Flyer III airplane! Many other buildings to see and a large museum inside the main building. We never knew there was so much innovation in Dayton history! All the NCR antique cash registers are beautiful!

By tfalkenb18 |

Carrillon Park has been a fixture in the Dayton community for many years. Tons of history from throughout Dayton's timeline from 1796 to the present day. Don't miss the original Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane. Tons of other awesome vehicles and machinery to see too, from Conestoga wagons to Model Ts to an original Wright Brothers bicycle. Make sure to check out the cute little model train ride at the back of the park...surprisingly fun! Also the man at the print shop was great and will even make your name on the linotype print machine for free. Finally, a shout out to the kids running the Culp restaurant at the park. They were clearly understaffed and it took a while to get the food out...BUT....they were obviously doing the best they could and were apologetic and friendly. Teenagers too often get a bad rap these days, but these kids did a fantastic job.

By RetiredTravelerTN |

Carillon Historical Park has so much to see that it is easily worth an entire day. We spent 3 1/2 hours there but would have enjoyed more time. Our first stop was the wonderful Wright Brothers Museum with an expert guide; we loved seeing the 1905 Wright Flyer III. The village setting of Dayton area historic structures was picturesque and interesting. We enjoyed the print shop and the informative printer who gladly told us about the machinery. All of the park staff were friendly and helpful. The price for the value of the exhibits is reasonable.

By Mark H |

We visited Carillon Historical Park the week of December 18, 2017. We had not visited the park in about 35 years prior to this visit. We were "Very" impressed with the attractions as they were related to Dayton's history. Whoever planned the layout of the attractions certainly knew what they were doing, in our opinion. And the attractions that had animatronics were most impressive! For such an impressive venue, we were quite surprised at the lack of advertising of this site. If we had known how impressive this site had become, we would not have waited 35 years to revisit it! For local and out of town visitors more frequent TV commercials should be broadcast. For out of town visitors, descriptive flyers of this site should be given to the hotels in the area. I happen to be an associate of a nearby hotel and we don't have any flyers of the park to give to our guests. We so enjoyed our visit, we became family members of the park and as a result can revisit the park whenever we want. This membership also includes discounts to use at the two eateries that are in the park and the antique car show that will be held there in the late summer.

By Willie B |

This is an underrated asset in the greater Dayton area. Locals need to go more often that they do. The out of towners come but the locals think that once you have seen it you don't need to go back. You need to be taking your out of town visitors. What a great place for an educational trip for your youngsters and very inexpensive particularly if you take a picnic lunch.

By pat l |

We went to this park just because of the Wright Brothers exhibit and plane. We were on a quest for our WilBears by visiting 8 Dayton locations from their brochure. Honestly, I didn't expect nearly as much as we found at this lovely park. We enjoyed the place almost all alone on a cold and rainy Saturday at the end of March.

We saw the Wright brothers exhibit and one of their planes.

We visited a print shop where my teenagers got to use a printing press like the Wright brothers might have used back when they had a print shop. They printed a postcard sized item that they were allowed to keep and mailed it to their grandmother as a postcard. The lady in the print shop was very nice and explained how everything there worked. She couldn't have been sweeter.

There are lots of exhibits about NCR cash registers and my husband enjoyed the details of the cash register.

We stopped in most of the little buildings and spent a couple of hours here. We aren't big readers so we didn't read every sign, but took in a lot of stuff in our time here. Probably not a great place for little kids, but my teenagers enjoyed the variety of layout and presentation as well as having the lady in the printshop so willing to answer questions and talk with them.

This is a great little place that I would love to visit again in better weather.

By David H |

Beautiful and informative. The Wright Brothers plane a must see. The flood exhibit was haunting and amazing. The park was nicely decorated for the holidays.

By M8345GAsandram |

Lovely fun historical things. Concerts, lots of planned things throughout the year. Plus Wright Brothers plane donated that is there on display.

By puroll |

Wasn't sure what to expect but pleasantly surprised at the professional displays, volunteers and artifacts. Dayton Ohio contributions in manufacturing, a great flood in 1913, an original Wright Brothers plane and other interesting local history. Very pleased with the site. Bring appropriate attire as you're walking from building to building.

By Kelly G |

My daughters (20 & 15), a family friend (14) and I visited Carillon Historic Park on a whim. We are traveling for a sports event from California and wanted to get a feel for the area. We were surprised by the variety, number and depth of the exhibits. While there was so much to see (from cash registers to Bald Eagles to historic buildings to airplanes to cars), it was not overwhelming. By far, the best was a personal tour of the Wright Brothers Aviation center led by Jeff. He honored our short time commitment while giving so much information through stories and interesting facts.

By com4table |

What a wonderful place to take family and friends to tell them about Dayton! Usually we do the whole park, lots of interesting buildings and history. However it was a cold day so we only went to the main building! To see all the businesses that Dayton is famous far in the past in unreal! I had to ride the beautiful carasel....reminded me of my childhood!

By KAREN W |

The park has live demonstrators who are in period clothing. We saw candle making from the wax collection to finished candles. Dayton was known for its inventions/inventors from the Wright Brothers...their airplane replica is in the museum..
The invention of the first automobile self-starter and many other inventions...Dayton, home of inventors. It is an amazing place with down-to-earth live demonstrations and life-like animated characters. Trains, planes and automobiles!

By Kelly Cathcart |

This is a nice park where you can view, go into some historical buildings. The buildings are set up along a sidewalk and they each have a display inside.

The best part of this park is the Wright Brothers 1905 flyer is here. The actual one that was restored. I am not sure why this wasn't advertised better, perhaps I just missed it. We found out at the memorial from the ranger there. This was completely worth it.

The park area is nice, and parking was plentiful and free. There is. even a Bald Eagle nest here, and we saw the eagles.

By WellsTrips |

Great facilities for conferences or special events. The facility is very clean, the staff is very professional. The restaurant offers a decent selection on food options. Plenty of parking. Beautiful place.

By HaRounAlRashid |

I'll make this short. Carillon Park, also called Carillon Bells by local because of the tower that has some, is known as an outdoor musical instrument called a carillon, in earlier times. While most of these are found in places abroad, this one is right here in my home city, Dayton, OH, just about 3 miles away.
The Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of the state of Ohio's founding in the 18th century, when it was considered a western territory, farthest west that colonist could go, before they ran out of dirt roads; and the trails became narrow tracks through huge forests, homes of numerous Native American tribes, like the Shawnee, the Saux, the Miami, the Chilacothee, etc. Have you ever seen an enactment of a Revolutionary Era battle on a village green? Well, the lawn of the park served as one when the British Regulars/ Redcoats sent out skirmishers to attack the Colonials battle lines with their single shot black powder muskets. The blue-coated Colonials sent out their same to meet the others, and shots were fired, the brilliant flashes of the powder being consumed, and the smoke-filled discharges of the weapons proceeded several of the uniformed renactors on both sides falling to the ground, as they dropped their muskets. Then, the armies of each rushed forward, the mounted officers fired their pistols, and several more joined their comrades on that grassy surface, presumed by onlookers (about a thousand) to be dead. They lay there until the two sides disengaged, and the battle was over. This was the only time I've ever seen such a colorful display of an engrossing nature, something like actual combat, from a far back time, with all the accurate attire, weaponry, supplies, and movements that could've been for real. All the other onlookers seemed just as rapt by the goings-on as I was. I'd had no advance notice that this was to take place that day, and just thought the event sounded interesting to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon enjoying. All the period costumes worn by the other characters who'd encamped there overnight, the smells of the food they cooked, the other competitions (axe throwing) also attracted large crowds. Once dark came on, the visitors started to leave, the campers retired to their tents, and the event closed for the night. That one day was the extent of my visit; since the next morning came early, and work was first on the agenda Monday morning.

By MaryJo49 |

We found out so many things about Dayton we didn't know about and great information about things we'd forgotten about. Great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Thoroughly enjoyed and and yes we'd even go back again.

By aannoonnyymmoouuss2 |

Train rides are amazing, plan on waiting for a while in line though, but listen to a hobo play banjo while you wait. Little buildings everywhere with actors/actresses portraying different roles, such as olden time school teachers. Flood building kinda creepy and loud for children. Robot show cool and educational, plan on getting wet though. Huge slide area, climb mountainous stairs to go down multiple slides, not safe for small children, but okay for older children and adults. Wright brothers actors. Tented gift shop area in the middle with mostly train agenda. Pretty much Fairground Food. Food very good but not safe for dairy/gluten allergies so pack a cooler if needed. Indoor Carousel, can get tickets with multiple rides. Bring water, not many places with water. Indoor historical museum exhibits and an entire historical town including brewing company. Very awesome. Can spend all day here depending what you enjoy.

By sandyg500 |

Several historical periods of the Dayton area are displayed and come "alive" both inside and outside in this wonderful park. Staff do a knowledgeable and wonderful job in directing and interpreting different points of history in the area. Wear comfortable shoes!

By TheServant65 |

It is a beautiful place to experience tranquility. It is part of Dayton's rich history. Love this place.

By Charles B |

Enjoyed the park essentially by myself. Dave gave me a personal tour of the Wright Brothers Museum. He even pointed out the eagle's nest above the museum. Another one-on-one tour in the Transportation Building.

By Companion369652 |

I like that they have inside and outside attractions, good place to learn history and walk outside at the same time. You can have a picnic in good weather too.

By Janean P |

This is a must-see in the Dayton area, for everyone young and old. This museum is filled with historical artifacts, featuring the first flight Wright flyer, the Wright Bros cycle shop, other historical buildings that have been relocated there, massive amounts of inventions and their inventors all unique to Dayton. The gift shop offers many unique gifts, including purses, etc, made from pop tops.

By didyb |

A great visit and interesting museum collections. Big enough, but not too big. Appreciated indoor and outdoor options.

By philmontsurvivor |

Haven't been there in awhile... glad we made the visit happen. $8 per adult and $1 for hayride or train ride. Bargain. Loved the historical displays that have been there for awhile, but the extra investment in the main building and restaurant was great addition. Fantastic display of NCR cash registers. The donuts and hot chocolate were great on a chilly night. Kids will love the train ride. Enjoyable visit. Didn't get to Carillon Brewing Co, but have heard good things. The lights on the bells is worth walking up to... it's free!

By Rod K |

A fantastic museum showing the industrail muscle of Dayton. I have profound respect for this city and the many marvels they have brought mankind. The exhibits are wonderfully done, interesting, and varied. I particularly liked the Wright building showcasing their efforts to get a heavier than air machine into the air. If you're in Dayton, spend a day enjoying the exhibits in this wonderful museum.

By Bob S |

The park is located near Dayton and it features many exhibits and displays. You'll need several hours to cover the entire place. The museum features exhibits from the many industries that flourished in the Dayton area. Cars, machinery, scientific research organizations, cash registers, etc, etc. There is a operating merry go round inside for the kids. It also has a 15 minute outdoor train ride around the perimeter. Several restaurants are available and ne features an operating brewery. Plenty of free parking. Many historically important structures have been relocated here and it is the home of the Wright Brothers Museum which is run by the National Park Service. The admission fee is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors.

By pasherry |

Visited this park on a Sunday. Admission is $12/adult with discounts for seniors and children. The main building was interesting with a vintage cash register exhibit and animatronics informative presentation about the early innovators of the Dayton area. The outside park area with old buildings was a bit of a disappointment as there was construction going on, no open food vendors and no living history demonstrations or train rides as advertised on their website. The place looked deserted and neglected. But the Wright museum building was interesting and the history of the Dayton flood was good. It was sad realizing that manufacturing in the US has declined so much. We walked around for about 2.5 hrs. Maybe it is slower during this time of year, but overall it was disappointing.

By Ryan |

I visited Carillon Historical Park for the first time on an outing for work. We were a small group and took a guided tour of the museum. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about the history of Dayton. The museum had some interesting things to see.

By Woo111 |

There is a lot of history at Carillon Park. The Wright Bros work shop is amazing. To see the tools used in their workshop and the replica plane is incredible. Knowing the planes we have now and seeing where it all begin is def worth the trip in itself. There are other great sights. This is my favorite. There is a brewery with great Irish and German food.

By Storyteller813328 |

The Carillon Park next to the river just south of Dayton Ohio is an excellent place for picnics biking hiking or just people watching. The Caroline bills are famous and it is a very peaceful Serene setting

By c27balstro |

We got much more than expected besides the Wright brothers plane. They have building after building of antique cash registers, cars, carriages, guns, carousel, old school exhibit and the carillon. They are hard at work updating the grounds which are very large. Some of the exhibits have a musty smell so hopefully some of their funds are going to address that. You could spends several hours and not see everything. We loved the clever bike racks.

By Shaymur |

I was surprised at how much there was to see here in the park. I spent much of my time in the main museum looking at displays and videos. The display of cash registers is very interesting and impressive. I had to rush through the other buildings in the park due to time but I also found them very interesting. I enjoyed the bicycle display and the streetcar/rail display. I had saved the Wright Flyer building to last and I'm glad that I was able to view the plane. I wish I could have spent more time here. I'm not local to Ohio and I still found it all very interesting.

By Jbnbecky |

So much about the history of Dayton. Hundreds of cash registers on display, history of the Wright brothers and a very sobering display of the flood.

By Hatta H |

A beautiful collection of Dayton Area landmarks all relocated and restored each building is like it's own mini museum. The park has several events over the year that are fun to attend. The Memorial day celebration is typically the air-force orchestra and fireworks with several food vendors, a great way to kick off summer. The Christmas tree is very festive and worth checking out if you are in the area in December.

By cenzt |

Great trip. We arrived at approximately 12 pm and made our way towards the entrance of the museum. After paying the admission fee, we began to explore the museum. The museum consisted of both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and contained several dozen outdoor historical buildings that were related to Dayton in some way, shape or form. The outdoor exhibit featured buildings such as the Newcom Tavern (the oldest building in Dayton), a one room schoolhouse, a horse barn, a summer kitchen, and a sugar camp house. There were informational plaques located in front of many of the buildings, that detailed what we were seeing in front of us. There were also volunteers located inside several of the buildings, that provided additional information on the building and its occupants. Many of the buildings had artifacts out for display, along with interactive exhibits and short documentary clips. Expect to do a lot of walking, as the park is on the larger size.

Our favorite building on site was Wright Hall, which featured the original 1905 Wright Flyer, which is considered to be the first functional airplane. There were tour guides available on site, and we were able to receive a guided tour of the building. The tour guide took us from room to room, and went over topics such as the brothers early life, their first business endeavors, the creation of the first airplane and other inventions. There was a short movie that played on demand, along with the original 1905 Wright Flyer and numerous other artifacts, out for display. There were informational plaques located on the walls for those that did not wish to do the guided tour. The museum was very nicely done, and extremely intriguing.

After viewing the outdoor buildings, we made our way back inside where we began to explore the indoor exhibits. The indoor exhibits focused on the many inventions that came out of Dayton, such as the cash register, and also featured a carousel that one could ride on. There was also an animatronic theatre presentation that played throughout the day, which focused on the founders of several Dayton inventions. There was a restaurant on site, along with various restrooms located throughout the park.

Tip: I recommend spending at least half the day here if you truly want to see everything.

By juliesaunt |

That's the way I felt when a friend and I visited Carillon Park a year ago. I grew up with 15 minutes (by bicycle) of the park, so did not think much of revisiting it. When my friend wanted to go, though, I was astounded at how much had been added. No longer just a minimal depiction of Dayton's rich entrepreneurial history. They had added an entire building dedicated to the creation and use of the metal flip-top that was invented in Dayton and which is still in use on soft drink cans today. They had expanded the area for the Wright Brothers to include their earlier planes-the actual planes, i believe. If not, they are perfect full-scale models. in addition to expanding the exhibits housed there, they also added additional information to all the existing exhibits. It's a fascinating place to visit and, if you want breakfast or lunch, they also have a restaurant that I've heard is very good.

By Suzanne G |

We visited here late in the day and only really wanted to see the Wright Brother Plane. We visited the building where the plane sits in a huge pit so it can be seen easily from various angles. Our guide Gerry was very attentive and informative and answered my husband's million engineering questions! The whole park is very pretty. Definitely worth a visit

By amesmoose |

Wonderful place to bring your family. Lots of high quality attractions highlighting historical achievements and inventions that Dayton brought to the world, including Wright Brothers Flyer #3. You could spend all day here as they have a retro cafe and a brewery restaurant.

By ohmommy2 |

We stopped here because we were spending the day visiting Wright Brother sites along the National Aviation Trail. We had no idea how much more this location would be. We were short on time (wouldn't be able to visit the other sites we had planned on if we took this site in in its entirety), so we only were able to spend a couple of hours here. We will be back sometime to give this location the time it deserves. We were able to take in the indoor museum and the Wright Brothers National Museum, but didn't spend time going through all of the other outdoor buildings. The areas we did visit were outstanding. The indoor exhibit offered amazing insight into manufacturing and industry in the Dayton area. The carousel was very unique. The Wright Brothers National Museum with the Wright Brothers Flyer was among our favorite stops along the Aviation Heritage Trail. There is a fantastic video presentation that I would highly recommend all visitors stop in to watch. It really ties together all of the locations along the trail and kept the interest of my teens as well. To be able to see the reconstructed Wright Flyer (a designated National Landmark) in Wright Hall was amazing. The only disappointment to our day was the hours of the cafe in the outdoor area. There was so much to see along the Aviation Trail that we hadn't stopped for lunch but I promised my kids we'd grab a bit here. Unfortunately, they close at 3, and we arrived shortly thereafter. It would be nice, especially in the summer months, if the cafe had slightly longer hours. We saw several others trying to stop in for a quick bite around the same time we were too.

By Juanita C |

Excellent from the time we arrived until we had to leave! A very informative young man introduced us to the cash register room and my husband and I continued to most of the inside displays and didn't have enough time for many things outside so plan to return in the near future. All of our group thoroughly enjoyed our carousel ride at the end of our visit. Also, everyone enjoyed their meals at the cafe.

By journalmytrips |

I was not familiar with Carillon Park before doing research for our recent road trip. Reviews sounded interesting so we made this a stop. There is adequate parking which always pleases me. At the visitor center, there is a gift shop and then you step further into the building to a museum. We were greeted by one of the staff and shown to an area full of antique cash registers which are really ornate works of art. You can then view an animatronic show featuring people from the history of Dayton. From there other rooms feature more of the history of Dayton.
Outside there are many other buildings to stop at such as a schoolhouse, a print shop, a train depot etc. Of special interest is the 1913 Flood Exhibit Building, the transportation center and the Wright Brothers Aviation Center. At many of these sites one of the staff was there to chat and answer any questions you might have.

By Jirecarol |

I was expecting a local history museum and instead I found out that important moments in America's industrial history took place in Dayton. Not it is the museum worth a stop if you are in town but it is worth a detour or could even be a destination.

By Porthos7 |

Literally one of the finest "historical" parks in the country. Took my family for a beautiful day experiencing everything they have to offer, from the #3 Wright Brothers plane, to the carousel, to the living history buildings, to the trains and even the old time cash registers-so much to see, do and experience. Give yourself about 3 hours and you'll be glad you did!

By Kristen C |

Great outdoor space along the river with views of downtown. Bell tower is iconic. Great museum with indoor and outdoor features. Interactive, interesting, and great for all ages.

By CarlaAKS |

They have an original Wright Flyer III, assembled by Orville, the only airplane to be a designated National Historic Landmark. The exhibit includes the sewing machine, drafting table, and camera the Wrights used. Seeing the plane alone is worth the trip, as even the Air Force museum only has a replica. The Park itself is a Dayton historic park, which is not wildly of interest to out of towners looking to do Wright Bros history, so the Wright exhibit is oddly placed within the little Dayton village of old buildings, including a grist mill, car dealership and gas station, set up behind the welcome center. I also thought the Wrights deserved a somewhat more professional film/video (we had to ask the attendant to turn it on and there were blank spots on the video). But you can see a very good film on the Wrights at the National Park Service visitor center in downtown Dayton on S. William St near the sites of the Wright Home and bike shop (there were 5 shops; and one has been restored there by the NPS; the house and last bike shop were moved by Ford to Greenfield Village in Michigan). Both films worth seeing, however. But once you've found Carillon Park, you can see the plane in an hour. As a sideline (for me), the welcome center has a huge and interesting collection of old cash registers from the National Cash Register Co, founded in Dayton.

By 1Cheribomb |

So Having lived in Dayton all my life you'd think I had been here. Not! Just visited in December. Wow so much to see. It was beautifully decorated. Had a place for cash registers from all over the world. So many. A Merry go round for the kids. Santa Clause was there. Info for General Motors, Fridgedare, To different automobiles made in Dayton . And so many other things to see. The best part for me was seeing the Authentic Wright Brothers plane. And the guide explaining everything to us. From the bicycle shop to flying. Our grand kids loved it! As did we. Had cute little shops to grab a bite too! Staff was super!!! We ended up buying a pass so we could keep coming back.

By Susan K |

What a beautiful place to stroll and learn some Dayton history. There are many buildings with significant items and explanations of such. The Dayton flood of 1913 is amazing to see actual photos, height of water marked on the building, and ensuing dams built for prevention. The transportation center has many preserved types, including stagecoach,Conestoga wagon, interurban trains, etc. Many more historical buildings with interesting features. Outdoors currently is an eagles nest with 2 eaglets .... can it be any better that they nested above the Wright Brothers building?!
Inside the education center are some amazing Dayton toys, NCR cash registers of all sorts ( beautiful ) and many other features.
For the Heritage days, there was a small gathering of civil war re-enactments, and clod busters baseball! Interesting!
This is a wonderful local museum celebrating Dayton’s history.

By LibLady56 |

This is a great place to walk around and see more of the Wright Brother history, NCR history, and a couple eagles raising their young. They have one of the original planes and the bike shop on the grounds. In another building they have a full variety of cash registers from through the years and the history of many of the great businesses that have called the Miami Valley home. So much interesting history and a wonderful facility with a gift shop and brewery on the grounds. Also if you can catch the carillon playing that is unique too.

By torch28 |

We visit Ohio every year and have never been before. It had an interesting area which explained what the area had looked like earlier. It also explained about the inventors who had come from the Dayton area. The main area had houses which had been transported there. The most interesting of all the houses was the one that contained the early Wright flyer and the Wright bicycle shop.

By 763guyf |

This museum is based on the transportation of Dayton’s history. From the blacksmith shop, the pioneer home, school house, the Erie Canal lock. The Sun Oil Co gas stop, the cars manufactured in Dayton! Col. Deed’s barn, where the first car self starter and ignition system was developed by Charles Kettering and his barn gang. The company was the Dayton Engineering Laboratory Co = DELCO. The gem is the 1904/1905 Wright Brothers Flyer, the world’s first practical flying machine. Beautiful setting along a hillside with a rivers view. The Carillon Towers with exposed bells, playing music. This is one of the finest historical museums I have ever had the pleasure to tour.

By Diana R |

We recently had a day to kill in Dayton, and this historical park was recommended. Wow!...what an amazing experience. Was not expecting to find such a gem. This park contained over 30 historic structures, amazingly maintained. The staff was extremely helpful and eager to assist you in any way. Not to be missed: the animatronic theater in the Heritage Center, the Aviation Center including Wright Hall which was designed by Orville Wright himself and houses the Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane, and the Carillon Brewing Company. Allow plenty of time to fully enjoy this remarkable park.

By Lifelong Daytonian |

Carillon Historical Park is a must-see if visiting Dayton, Ohio. Not only is the history of the area and its many famous inventors (eg, Wright Brothers) beautifully displayed, two bald Eagles--Willa and Orv--have been nesting for three years just above the park. A spot is marked for Eagle watching and a local eagle watcher is often available to share his knowledge of the bald eagles. If that weren't enough, enjoy lunch or dinner at the Carillon Brewery or breakfast and lunch at Culp's. There is also a very nice gift shop with plenty of Dayton history souvenirs and gifts. The park is located within walking distance of the Marriott at University of Dayton.

By Terrihead1 |

Lots of history, with great tour guides! The buildings are amazing & the trains are awesome! Well worth a visit!

By A & M Travels |

So much Dayton History in one place. Each building has a different "theme" of Dayton history ( Cash register museum, Prohibition exbibit, Bicycle museum, all the antique cars and trolleys, old news papers, the flood museum, and so much more). The Wright Brothers National Historic site is also located on the property , you can see one of the original Wright Brothers planes and other historic memorabilia as well as a replica of the Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop. To get to each of the buildings you will have to go outside, there is a paved walking trail.

By S H |

My handsome honey brought me here to celebrate my birthday. I love to ride carousels 🎠 and learning about people/places. This was great! So much to do and see. They have ice cream in the cafe too! Excellent time. Can’t wait to take the grand-babies for the Christmas celebration.

By mauricesbelle |

I was here about 20 years ago and felt there wasn't much to see, just a few historical buildings with little human interaction. I didn't expect much when a group from church decided to come here. I was surprised by how much it has improved since my last visit. For a reasonable $8 adult admission we were both educated and entertained by the exhibits.
The visitor center has some interesting museumlike exhibits along with an entertaining Disneyesque anatromonic show featuring historical characters (and a dog) talking about Daytons technological contributions to society.
You than proceed to the "village" where there are a number of original or reproduced buildings representing Dayton through the years, with an emphasis on industrial contributions. Many of the buildings had costumed guides or informative docents.
We had 3 hours to spend there and felt rushed, with 4 hours needed if you want to see all the film's and read information about the exhibits.

By 91914 |

This is the overarching title of an area that contains many historical venues. Although it wasn't clear to us from what we could find online, there is a single admission charge that allows you onto the grounds where there is a village with old schools, workshops, houses, etc. There were very informative demonstrations going on in some of them. You could easily spend a whole day here if you investigated every site. One thing that did disappoint, though, was that we were interested in the carillon itself, but no one seemed to be able to tell us much about it, or when it might play. (We got multiple incorrect leads. All we heard were bells actually a little before each quarter-hour, but we were hoping to hear more.) The whole place is scenic and educational and a very pleasant place to stroll.

By Paul H |

This is a great Historical park that is a wonderful stroll through history that has had an impact on not just Dayton,Ohio,North America but the World. It is pleasant experience for both adults and children.It is a beautiful park that will far exceed anyones expectations. There are outdoor and indoor eating places.The inventions are amazing and the demonstrations from the past are great. This is a small scale Greenfield village,but easier to navigate.It is definitely a must see .It has the 2nd oldest plane in the World,The Wright Flyer #2.ORIGANAL!

By LLR209 |

This park is a blend of fun, history and beauty. The grandchildren had fun learning without realizing all the history they soaked in. The bonus now are the eagles nesting in view. Definitely not to be missed!

By Mike N |

My wife and I drove the 60+ miles we live north of the site with the intentions of going to the Brewery. Once we got there found out it was closed for cleaning and maintenance. While I understand that is needed, I was a bit disappointed that with the way Society is so connected by social media sites like Facebook, which the Brewery has a website with, nothing had been posted before we came down. So beings we were already there, we decided to go ahead and tour the grounds. I will say, I was glad we did. There is a lot of history there to be learned and it is interesting to think of how much of that history and the inventions and industry has changed the World. I would encourage anyone who enjoys history or mechanical sciences to take the time to visit, its well worth the time spent there.

By Daniel A |

First time we have been there since we were little kids. Really enjoyed learning about local history and its so fascinating to seen relattives on the walls of history. Got to introduce my inlaws to some of my own family history. Will definitely bring my own children there once they are old enough.

By Paul S |

My wife loves historical villages. I can take 'em or leave 'em and generally do the latter, The main draws here for most visitors are the carillon bell tower and the Wright plane. It is neat that you can park at a very small lot and walk right up under the tower. It is supposed to play every hour but we never heard it. Must have still been too cold. I then turned into the Carillion brewery, turned around, drove past the the tower,turned left, and proceeded to the museum parking lot where I discovered that I could have just continued past the brewery and wound up in the same place. Our autistic son was getting tired after a long day and I was tired of fighting traffic and construction, so I just wasn't all that impressed. It was also still cold and neither the train nor the carousel were operating. Their Wright brothers shop is a reconstruction. The original is in Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

By rocketranch |

This is a gorgeous walk-through park that contains many historical exhibits, showing the history of the Dayton area. It is a must-see for showing your visitors, and yourself, the important history of this area. Fall is one of the best times to visit to enjoy the many large trees. My favorite is the car barn with trollies, railroad cars, and buses made in Dayton. A decent restaurant is on-site. One of the very early Wright Flyers is in its own gorgeous building. Allow plenty of time to see the many important exhibits.

By Sonny_circumvehor |

Lets be honest.. they're exactly 2 things to do in Dayton. Well 3 if you include LEAVE.

This is a true must do gem, Ave rightfully so deserves its hi ratings.

Enjoy a bucket list item, when your passing thru.

By Teardrop Trailer Traveler |

I went to Carillon Park specifically to see the Wright Flyer, but I ended up spending the better part of the afternoon there.

Carillon Park has lots to see. The park shows a variety of aspects of the local area's history. The main building features tons of interesting items, including a carousel, models, and the largest collection of old cash registers I've ever seen. (Dayton was home to the National Cash Register Company.)

The park has many other smaller buildings, ranging from an old tavern to bike shops and train stations. There is a lock and dam, a covered bridge, and a collection of old train cars. This is a great place to explore, with some true jewels in the collection. I was happily surprised with what I discovered at the park.

By anderson213 |

We came for the Wright Brothers, but gained a lot of local information, as well. Appropriate for children of all ages--different sections are for older kids, while younger kids can enjoy some of the hands-on activities and the animatrons.

Beautiful grounds. Very well maintained. Even saw an eagle resting in the trees.

By Rosie H |

Spent an afternoon here - one of the buildings houses the Wright Flyer III and has a comprehensive story about the Wright Brothers. There are a number of other buildings from the Wright Brother era which are interesting to visit. Also the Carillon Tower is impressive and very melodious when the bells chime. There is a coffe shop and gift shop.

By David J |

Wow ! My wife and I had a stay vacation this year so we decided to visit Dayton Ohio and visit the home of Wilbur and Orville Wright ! This facility is a must see in the world of history and the story of aviation among other items and what Dayton played in a role in the birth of aviation . The home of Wilbur and Orville is a must see , they have limited tour dates and you take a shuttle to the home . After the tour of the home then we went back to carillon park to tour the grounds . Going thru the aviation museum , the Deeds barn was amazing ! The Deeds barn is a must see because of the old cash registers and all the pieces and parts that went into a cash register . They have other historical venues of the history of Dayton . Parts of the park is getting renovated but you can still go thru the exhibits ! You could easily Spend a full morning there and then have a nice picnic lunch !

By Dmarkwind |

It’s no Greenfield Village or Colonial Williamsburg, but this small historic park featuring historic buildings and costumed interpreters is well worth a visit. The best part for us was the John W. Berry Sr. National Wright Brothers Museum, located within the park. We didn’t get her name, but there was a volunteer who spent a lot of time with us telling us stories about the Wright Brothers and answering our questions. It was raining when we came in and there weren’t a lot of other visitors at the time, and we really appreciated talking with her! We also enjoyed climbing the Brethren Tower, and visiting the James F. Dicke Transportation Center, the Dayton Cyclery, and the working 1930s Print Shop. We were a little surprised that the museum portion of the main building (also called the Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship) was much more extensive than we expected with a lot of great displays about Dayton history and all the innovations and developments that came out of the city. There's even an indoor merry-go-round you can ride! Wish we had more time to read all the displays. Be sure not to miss the short show featuring animatronic figures or the park’s large gift shop!

By scottjnpg |

A beautiful park with many interesting venues. The interactive movie is a must. You need to allow a full day and be prepared for walking, but it's worth it.

By Mary S |

All around welcoming experience from approaching the lovely site to encounters with the staff. Property offers convenient parking and easy to navigate.
Our adult group arrived when first opened allowing time prior to the tour of Hawthorn Hill mansion. The only reason we needed to depart after five hours was our schedule. The exhibits seemed to be well spaced even with multiple small group field trips. The staff are excellent from friendliness to knowledgeable to professional. Restrooms conveniently placed throughout. Not enough space to list all that we enjoyed. A real gem.

By starkman2018 |

History of American creative inventors that changed the world forever a special place to visit and to see it all in a uniquely outside and inside Park setting.

By lg60 |

There are several historical buildings, full size train cars, Carillon Bell tower, Beer Hall and a restaurant!

By Alex K |

This is a super fun place to visit with your family. Come see the wright Bros bike shop or enjoy the gigantic clock that used to sit at 75 and 35. Good food, all day attraction. Great at Christmas time when the bells are lit up.

By Rieder911 |

My Mom & I took my niece 8 years old, and my nephew 6 years old. We all had fun! We had lunch there too and it was yummy. Actually wish we would’ve given ourselves more time. I felt like a kid again, I went down the slides that are built into the hillside in the woods. The airplane tour was very cool, and very interesting!

By grannyr0sie |

The park provides a perfect place to visit with family and friends to explore the history of Dayton! Stroll through the paved paths to see an old one room school house, a replica of the Wright Cycle Shop, or the transportation center. Ride an old carousel or schedule your visit when the train is running.The park is well maintained and because it is big enough, the park doesn't seem too crowded.

By dancummins1 |

Beautiful park and museum even if you don't care about what makes Dayton famous.You could easily spend a day here and it's for the whole family with a Merry Go Round and other attractions for the kids, but it's not an amusement park. Could be classified as a "Learning Center" for all things Dayton with terrific exhibits and buildings that have been moved to the park, There is also 2 restaurants and plenty of restrooms. Open all year!

By Jeannie C |

LOVED this park! Extensive cash register exhibit (Who knew?) to the carousel (indoor). Wright's original plane to the print shop. We really loved watching the two gentlemen printing on the presses on Sunday before Labor Day. It was a beautiful day to stroll thru each building. Beautifully maintained and the docents were warm and cared very much about this park.

By Sue R |

What a place to learn about all of the wonderful, lifechanging inventions that came from Dayton, Ohio and the creative imaginations that were gathered here. Very good, casual resturant in the brewery.
Worth spending the day. Free parking.

By TxSimm |

Wonderful experience learning about Dayton history through museum type exhibits, historical buildings and displays, and docents-some in period costume. It is Huge! We were there for over 4 hours and could have stayed longer. The print shop was amazing, the man took time to demonstrate the process, and they have cards and notepads for sale. The Wright Brothers National Museum (NPS) is actually inside Carillon Park. Received an informative personal group tour from the docent.
Sadly, got so caught up in the displays the restaurant closed, but did enjoy the gift shop.
Would have loved to have the opportunity to purchase a beverage somewhere outside in the park area. Customer service was great. I actually came the day before but didn’t realize until after I bought tickets I was in the wrong time zone due to travel and would not have had much time to look around-they refunded my tickets without question and I returned the next day.

By Dale P |

Lots to see.
Bring comfortable shoes and your camera.
Has a real Wright Brothers plane.
Nice reproduction of bike shop, as real one is at Henry Ford Museum.

By Marge H |

We focused on the history of the Wright brothers and were amazed to learn about their scientific approach to developing the airplane. They took copious notes of all their experiments, even built a wind tunnel to test out wing shapes, developed new formulas regarding the amount of lift required to get an airplane off the ground. This is a wonderful place to visit in conjunction with the National Air Force Museum. The original plane that broke all flight records at the time is in the museum.

Don’t miss the exhibit of old National Cash Registers. They are works of art.

By Edward K |

Once per year best of the best car show, but the park and attractions are well worth a visit. The highlight of the park is a real deal Wright flyer, set up and supervised by none other than Orville Wright. One of Ohio's best museums.

By Ken E |

Wow! We didn't know this place was here. It was exciting to see the Wright Brothers' Model III airplane, and hear the history behind that particular airplane and the building around it. So much different subjects of history of Dayton in one place was surprising. Should take all day to see everything!

By thouse1208 |

Wow, we haven't been to Carillon in probably 15 years, if not longer, and what am amazing transformation has taken place there. The Park provides an incredible opportunity to learn about the history of Dayton, the marvelous inventors, and their inventions, that helped define the city. And with now two restaurants, one of which is open several hours after the park closes, this is a great place to spend the day, and you need a good day to really see everything. Tom, our docent for a tour of the Wright Bros. related buildings, was just incredible. What a wealth of knowledge! And the food and service at the Carillon Brewing Company was wonderful, especially if you are into German food. Yum!!

By Amusementparkguy |

A friend and I stopped here to check this place out last weekend. It was an incredible visit. The museum inside showcases many of the businesses and industries that got their start in the Dayton area. The carousel is a unique menagerie in that there are few animals but objects that represent the companies from the Dayton, Ohio, area. How often can you ride a pop can or cash register on a carousel?

There is a nice village outside the the museum area, featuring buildings and relics from the past.

Overall, it gives a great overview of Ohio from yesteryear.

By Larry W |

This was a fun place to visit during the holidays. We went to visit the 200 foot-tall Christmas tree that was constructed around a tower in the park. It was beautiful, and hundreds of other admirers were visiting as well. There were lots of other decorations set up around the park, and it was truly worth a stroll, even in the cold. I highly recommend this as a stop around the Christmas holidays.

By Aaron B |

Along with visiting Carillon Park I am a volunteer member of the restoration crew at the park. As such I get to see most of the buildings and attractions of the park. It is well worth the time to come to the park. Much of the history of Dayton, especially as a center of science, engineering, invention and innovation can be seen during a visit. The park has items and exhibits that will interest people of all ages and much more than can be seen in a day so an annual membership which is very cost effective if you are from the Dayton area is recommended.

By 694rick |

I didn't know so many things started in Dayton. For example, for you car buffs, the DELCO in AC-DELCO stands for Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company? They also have the original Wright Flyer III. (Estimated at 80% original.)

By Rich M |

Took my buddy Baron to this beautiful park with lots of trees for him to leave his scent....I enjoy going to this park when my health and strength allow me....

By bee2b5 |

There are so many things here that everyone will find to draw their interest. There is a main museum that highlights inventions, industries, and people involved with Dayton History. National Cash Register, The Wright Brothers, the Ketterings, John Patterson, the Great Flood of 1913, the auto industry, war involvement, and so much more! There are several separate buildings that are outside. Of course the most exciting is the one that houses the Wright Brothers first airplane! Reasonable prices for admission!

By empressellen |

This is a more extensive museum (we had already visited the Dayton Aviation Heritage Museum). Loved seeing the original Wright Flyer! Also fascinating to learn about other things invented in and companies started in Dayton. This had a lot of fascinating information! Plus the grounds are BEAUTIFUL.

By Kim E |

We had about 6 hours to spent here. I could have just sat and listened to the bells for the entire time.

By buckimom |

This is a great place to visit year round. You can walk the grounds when weather allows or stay inside touring the museums. The flood exhibit reminded me that people can put others before their own well being when disaster strikes. It was heartwarming to see how the owner of NCR took the initiative to rescue stranded survivors and fed and clothed them. You learn much about a city that gave so much in the area of new inventions and produced so many dedicated people that led America into the future.
The exhibits are varied and always interesting. I highly recommend a visit to this very interesting and educational park.

By BKrook74 |

I went here with my daughter for a field trip, and couldn't believe how cool it was.. so much has happened in Dayton, it's incredible. Such nice people and the displays are amazing... I've gone back several times on my own.

By Emily W |

My husband and I really enjoyed visiting this museum! The workers were so knowledgeable, we especially liked the Wright Brothers exhibit, and the printing presses! We heard the animatronic (not sure if that’s the right term) show was great, but we missed it! Definitely worth a stop if you’re in Dayton!

By Scrapy59 |

Carrillon Park is a great area with or without kids. A lot of local history to be gathered. An early version of the Wright Flyer is there, along with The National Cash Register Co. Good restaurant on site also, serves alcohol. They do a spectacular Xmas lights display.

By CLPope |

This is a must for all visitors and residents. I was blown away to learn what an important roll Dayton and its residents played in US History.

Plan several hours to take it all in. There is a lot of outside walking and some of the buildings are not air conditioned so go early in the day if you are visiting during the warm months.

By stm1258 |

Great place to visit for an hour or two. Relaxing and nice are the words that we kept saying about it. Fun and a nice time.

By EstarDayton_Ohio_Usa |

Great place to learn the history of Dayton. I have been there a few times and always learn something new. Great place for kids too

By barbt425 |

This park has grown so much since its foundation. So many more displays and exhibits, a brewery/restaurant and wonderful new things to explore. We went specifically to see the bald eagles. The information desk guided us to the best spot for seeing them and advised the best viewing times. Sure enough, they showed up like clockwork. Dayton should be proud of this gem.

By Relax08119258016 |

Went to see Wright Bros historical site & discovered the history of Dayton OH area. Amazing inventive citizens of this area. Discovered the origins of many companies that still exist originated in Dayton area. Loved seeing the Wright Bros 1905 airplane.
Well worth the visit

By William O |

Friends recommended to go, was skeptical. Was very surprised and enjoyed all exhibits and all well done and nice grounds. Can spend a better part of your day there. Worth the trip.

By Larry M |

I grew up in Oakwood and remember churning butter and using a spinning wheel during elementary field trips. This place highlight the Dayton innovations. Even if you grew up here, you will be amazed at how many inventions occurred here. Dayton is much bigger than the airplane.

By Teresa C |

Go back in time , to learn about the History of the Famous Erie Canal! Plus see old homes and and how they lived back in the day ! This is a Great Spring thru Fall place to go walk the park see the Historical Carillon Bells ! Great for all ages and even strollers or wheelchairs! A must see in Dayton they also have a wonderful restaurant there with Great Food !

By Doug H |

Carillon Park is full of great historic sites- not just for the Dayton area- which are significant in their own right- but for the world- the invention of flight, the self-starter
for automobiles, the cash register- as well as samples of what life was like in
different eras- Definitely worth the price of admission and worthy of 2-3 hours or even more to see all the sights.

By Mrs. C |

What a great experience.... have visited this museum numerous times over the last 20 years and never been disappointed with the variety of displays.

By DanRenfro |

From the bowels to the trains even to the cafeteria carillon Park shows off the history of the area. A beautiful place to walk, listen to the bells, have an afternoon snack, lunch or short train ride you'll enjoy your visit here.

By Lisa C |

We had time to burn while in Dayton and Carillon was recommended. We weren’t sure what it was but went anyway. It is a historical park where they have placed a ton of historical buildings, vehicles and more on 65 acres of land. You can walk around, go inside and see some neat historic buildings. They have a one room school house from Springfield. They have it set up with desks and even a “teacher” with answer questions and give you great information. There are also other historic buildings, like houses, and a tavern. They have a printshop which you can visit and see how printing presses work. There is a building full of old train cars, and trolleys. A garden railroad track goes all around the grounds. The highlight for us was seeing the Wright Brother’s 1905 airplane which is 85% original. A spectacular piece of history. If you have a few hours to a full day to visit, you can see as much or as little of Dayton’s history as you have time for. Definitely worth a visit. And the gift shop has tons of great things for sell!

By scott r |

Multifaceted experience. There is decent to good historic village, much like you've probably encountered elsewhere. There is Dayton history hall, which really has much wider scope than merely local, given the many pioneering industries located both in Dayton and Ohio generally. There's a host of Dayton based transportation including Stoddard-Daytons, which being a car buff I know but don't see often (there may be 40-50 left). There is a really good Wright museum which in itself is worth an hour easily - more if you want to go in depth. A tower to climb - because it's there!. Other hands on / demonstrated exhibits, and maybe most importantly genuinely friendly staff. Was able to have several long, interesting, personal conversations with people who really knew their stuff and who would probably (rightly) see themselves as more caretakers of history than employees. To me, this was well above average, maybe even surprisingly so, and I find it hard to imagine someone walking away dissatisfied.

By com4table |

Can’t wait to see the tree lit at the carillon bells tonight! Go every year, really beautiful! The park will be open and it really is enjoyable for the whole family! Don’t miss the pub!

By Dave S |

My son and I were looking for a way to kill an afternoon as the girls were off doing their own thing. We had just been to the Air Force museum, so that was a no go. A google search later led me to this place. What a great find. The displays and buildings were very interesting and informative and everything was very well maintained. Well worth the nominal entry fee.

By NVM |

Great Christmas lights, music in settings of outdoor museum. Tallest “ Christmas Tree” in South Ohio made of a bell tower is fascinating. Excellent Christmas boutique with unique ornaments and toys is worth visiting. It is great for all ages

By CityCamping |

I was visiting family and we decided to vist the park. It was an oustanding experience and I learned quite a bit about my hometown. We had lunch at the brewery and the food was outstanding.I would recommend this place to anyone.

By 22travel2x |

This park is a conglomeration of all things Dayton. Bits of history have been brought to life here from pioneers to notable businesses. It covers a large area so be prepared to walk. Meals and beverages are also available on the property via a cafe and a brewery - tour choice but I recommend the brewery. As you enter the property there is a rather large carillon that chimes on the quarter hour. Everything is well kept and informative with folks around the place ready to answer your questions
A nice place to wander around or bring the kids for a look back in time. Oh, and while we were there the staff pointed out a nesting pair of bald eagles.

By dmac0415 |

Having visited the Carillon Historical Park multiple times now I felt it important to pass along my review of another Great Visit !
Carillon continues to impress. The Park is well kept, staff friendly and knowledgeable -
Carillon Brewery a great plus.
The Concours d' Elegance is a must see if you have a love for Classic cars.
You will not be tired from walking as everything is relatively close -
New additions coming !
Become a member - it's worth it.

By Scott W |

Awesome museum, friendly staff. Train ride was a bit wet due to water on the seats but WOW! The wright brothers plane! There was a ton of other excellent / outstanding exhibits but this is a MUST SEE for any aviation enthusiast.

By ren b |

Wonderful history! From log cabins to the Wright Brothers to the Great Flood, Dayton's vibrant history is effectively and enjoyable exhibited. Ride the mini train!

By Lorna B. |

We visited here recently and enjoyed our time very much. As history buffs, we found lots of interesting things to see throughout the complex. Heritage Hall contained exhibits about items invented or manufactured in Dayton, OH, or nearby. The collection of cash registers (an item invented here) was truly impressive; they were works of art! Included here was an enjoyable 20-minute-long animatronic presentation about Dayton’s innovators and a very unusual carousel.

Outdoors, there are various buildings and structures spread out on their grounds, including historic houses, a church, a school, a covered bridge, etc.; some buildings had docents inside and others contained exhibits. The transportation barn contained a nice collection of historic vehicles such as a coach, Conestoga wagon, steam engine, passenger trains, a streetcar, caboose, etc. Another building contained rare and antique bicycles, all fascinating and fun to see.

A highlight for us was the National Park Service’s Wright Brothers National Museum. It displays the original 1905 Wright Flyer III and various exhibits about their accomplishments in the area of aviation. There was another (different) animatronics presentation in this building. Having visited the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Wright Cycle Company building that morning (see separate review), we found these additional exhibits a nice supplement; the information presented here was not at all redundant to the other site, so seeing both of these was worth doing. (If you have a NPS pass, tell them at admission and receive a small discount on your Carillon Park ticket.)

We did not hear the carillon in play during our visit and did not hear anything about when it can be heard (maybe we missed in while indoors). There was a bit of construction going on here as new exhibits are readied for opening; we were told a train will soon be added to give visitors a ride around the park. We had planned to eat lunch at Culp’s Café, but their website stated it was not open. (I would have rated this site 5 stars but deducted one star for the construction mess and the closed café.)

In all, we spent almost four hours here, enjoying the exhibits, the presentations, and the grounds. It was a very enjoyable time and a great site at which to wrap up our spring trip before heading home to eastern PA the following day. There was plentiful free parking and clean bathrooms.