A group of settlers founded Dayton, Ohio, on April 1, 1796, and today it's the sixth-largest city in the state. Dayton, or Gem City as it's known, is famous for aeronautics and aviation and its many contributions to science and engineering. You'll find no shortage of enjoyable, uncommon, and exciting things to do around Dayton, from sporting events to museum exhibits to the arts. Continue on reading below for some of our favorite facts about the city!
The Origin of Aviation
Wilbur and Orville Wright were born in Dayton. In 1878, their father gave them a toy called the Flying Bat. It had a propeller that gave it enough power to fly on its own. The bat could soar to more than 20 feet in the air. The Wright brothers played with the toy until it broke and fell apart, then they built a new and improved Flying Bat.
The bat fascinated the boys, and it started their lifelong passion for flying and aeronautics. Some 25 years later, the Wright brothers built and flew the first power-driven plane. Because the Wright brothers were born in Dayton but moved to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to construct the first airplane, the Birthplace of Aviation has been a topic of debate. In 2003, however, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 278 to 3 to name Dayton, Ohio, the true birthplace.
Fantastic flying and aviation places to visit in Dayton include:
- The oldest military aviation museum in the world: The National Museum of the United States Air Force.
- Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center.
- The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center.
- John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center.
The Home of SunWatch Indian Village
Dayton is home to the must-see SunWatch Indian Village. Native Americans occupied the village some 800 years ago, and the city was reconstructed and opened for public tours in 1988. Visitors can see exhibits and learn about the history and culture of those who occupied native villages long ago.
A Professional Women's Roller Derby Team
The Gem City Rollergirls founded their team in 2006 in Dayton. They are the city's first and only women's flat track derby association league. The Gem City Rollergirls include two teams — The Violet Femmes and The Lavender Haze — that play against other teams from various clubs and three home teams — the Bully Frogs, Murder Squad, and Snark Attack — that play against each other. The Gem City Rollergirls is a derby-skater-run and -owned league.
The First Professional Football Game in American History
In 1916, employees from three Dayton factories got together and organized a recreational football team named the Dayton Triangles.
The American Professional Football Association, now called the National Football League, hosted the first-ever professional football game on Oct. 3, 1920. The Triangles played against the Columbus Panhandles at Triangle Park and won 14 to 0. Dayton no longer holds regular NFL games but still plays FLAG games at Triangle Park.
The First Soapbox Derby
In 1933 Myron Scott, a Dayton Daily News photographer, held the first impromptu soapbox race for 19 boys in Dayton. Watching a group of boys race their homemade soapbox cars inspired him so much he started an event.
The following summer, the official All-American Soapbox Derby, sponsored by Chevrolet, took place. A sizable crowd of spectators and racers attended the event, with 362 kids and their soapbox cars ready to race. In August 1936, the race moved from Dayton to Akron, where the event still takes place annually.
The Voice of the Famous Bart Simpson
Nancy Cartwright, the Emmy-Award-winning actress and voice of Bart Simpson on The Simpsons, was born in Dayton, Ohio. In 1976, Cartwright was working at WING, a local Dayton radio station, doing voice-overs for commercials. A Warner Bros. representative visiting the station heard Cartwright's work, introduced her to the animation industry, and the rest is history.
The Simpsons debuted on Dec. 17, 1989, and it remains the longest-running American animated sitcom and American sitcom in history. Cartwright also voices Maggie Simpson, Rod Flanders, Nelson Muntz, and Ralph Wiggum. She plays roles in other popular animated series, including the Snorks, Kim Possible, Rugrats, The Replacements, and Pinky and the Brain.
Downtown Arts, Culture, Festivals, and Events
Downtown Dayton is a destination for arts lovers. The Dayton Art Institute is a museum of fine arts that contains various pieces representing thousands of years of art and archeological history. At least 15 other galleries and museums call Dayton home. The downtown streets are full of creativity and offer a wide range of live music, festivals, performances, artwork, cultural activities, and venues.
Enjoy breathtaking art exhibits and fun performances for the entire family. Depending on the day, you can catch anything from up-and-coming artists to the best Broadway musicals. Check out small art displays as well as world-famous showcases by European masters. The region ranks 33rd in the nation out of 373 metropolitan areas known for their arts and culture. Some of Dayton's most famous festivals and events include:
- The Pride Parade and Festival.
- The African American Cultural Festival.
- The Jazz Festival.
- The Hispanic Heritage Festival.
- The Funk Festival.
- The Blues Festival.
- The Reggae Festival.
Diversity and Inclusion
Dayton is a city rich in history, culture, and diversity. From the entertainment and shops to the restaurants and residents, you'll find an eclectic mix coming together in celebration and harmony from all over the world. For the second year in a row, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine awarded the University of Dayton its Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award. The publication recognized the university nationally for its continued excellence in diversity and inclusion. The Gem City boasts a strong sense of community.
We wouldn't be surprised if the city of Dayton got its nickname for being a hidden gem. The unique town proves you don't have to be the biggest or most popular to be interesting. That concludes White Allen Chevrolet's fun facts about Dayton. Did we leave off one of your Gem City favorites? If so, get in touch! We will add it to the next list.