Carillon Park in Dayton has been here for 75 years. I think I’m the last one to know about it!
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If it was invented in Dayton, built in Dayton, or important to Dayton, it’s here at Carillon Historical Park.
Carillon Park encompasses a huge campus with dozens of buildings and thousands of exhibits. Friendly docents are happy to explain the importance of each invention on display.
Such as National Cash Register – a Dayton company. These mechanical calculators were invented way back in 1879. A marvel of engineering, thousands of tooled parts went into the build. The finest examples of antique NCR machines are on display at the park.
My girlfriend and I strolled the park all afternoon. Really, you could spend a couple of days here and not see everything.
I was impressed with the animatronic figures, such as this one of Jonathan Dayton who mechanically explained the early history of the town.
Train cars and trolleys were once made in Dayton, with many on display in an over-sized barn. The Great Flood of 1913 wiped out most of these manufacturers.
We took a ride around the park on the 3/4 scale train. It’s electric, surprisingly, and also has some connection to Dayton, although the details escape me.
Dayton inventors were pioneers in bicycle manufacturing, right up to present day.
Of course the most famous bicycle makers from Dayton were Orville & Wilbur Wright. Parts of their original workshop are here in a dedicated museum.
The history of their flying machine invention is presented in a special wing. The original Wright Flyer III is on display. It was brought here from Kitty Hawk, NC where the first flight took place. The canvas and spruce wings were rescued from obscurity out of an old lady’s barn.
After a long day touring the park, we stopped at the Carillon Brewing Co. for a little refreshment.
Carillon Park was a surprisingly good adventure. I’m sorry it took me so long to find out about this place, but I sure know now!