THE TOURIST AVIATION TRAIL (continued...)
The
Convention and Visitors Bureau also erected site signs with the ATI
Logo to further identify the trail. The logo, designed by Read
Viemeister, features a likness of the Wrights' 1903 Flyer I. The success of the first project led to the committee's decision to
incorporate as the not-for-profit Aviation Trail, Inc.
Throughout
the years the Dayton Advertising Club provided major funding for the
brochure. Additional support also came from the Dayton-Montgomery
County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Green Country Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
In 1991, ATI organized A Festival of Aviation
History to celebrate its tenth anniversary. The two-day event,
held on September 14 & 15, featured special attractions at each
of the participating Aviation Trail Sites. Activities focuses
on the Wright Brothers neighborhood in Dayton's West Side which included
a visitors center in the Bank One branch office on West Third Street,
guided tours of the restored Wright Cycle Company building on South
Williams Street, a guided walking tour of the West Third Street National
Historic District and a special van tour to The Wright Company factory
buildings off West Third Street, (now part of a Delphi Corporation)
The
self-guided tour in the latest edition covers 14 sites: The Wright-Dunbar
Interpretive Center--Aviation Trail Visitor Center, The Wright Cycle
Company, Paul Lawrence Dunbar State Memorial, Dayton History-
Carillon Historical Park, Woodland Cemetary, The National Museum of
the United States Air Force, The National Aviation Hall of Fame Learning
and Resource Center, Wright Memorial, Huffman Prairie Flying Field
Intepretive Center, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, Wright State University
-- Special Collections and Archives, Wright "B" Flyer, and the Waco
Museum and Aviation Learning Center.
THE AVIATION TRAIL GUIDEBOOK
In
order to publicize the complete list of aviation-related attractions
and historically-significant sites uncovered during the research for
the brochure, ATI published a guidebook. Entitled A Field
Guide to Flight: On the Aviation Trail in Dayton, Ohio, the
book tells the stories behind the 45 sites initially comprising the
Aviation Trail. It was written by Mary Ann Johnson and published
by Landfall Press, Dayton, Ohio, 1986 and updated in 1996.
In
connection with the publication of the guidebook, ATI erected a second
round of site signs to identify the enlarged Aviation Trail..
A fresh set of signs went up in 1991.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Currently ATI main goal is the completion of the Dave Gold Parachute Museum. Fund raising is going on to complete the interactive displays. The Dave Gold Parachute collection is available for research via the website at Wright State Archives found in the links on this website.. ATI is seeking to increase its membership base of support. ATI will continue to make the public aware of the aviation heritage. New brochures are now available at all sites that are open to visitors and to the convention bureaus. Additionally,
ATI will continue to coordinate with the Dayton National Park on projects
and activities of mutual interest; to promote the tourist Aviation
Trail and encourage coordination among the sites; and to continue
the on-going events and projects it has been involved with in the
past.
