UNESCO World Heritage

The Wright Brother’s revolutionary achievements in Dayton, Ohio made flying a practical reality, which has changed the course of human history over the last 120 years. The four sites linked to these achievements are critically important as they preserve the historical evidence of the Wright Brother’s transformative work. These sites’ inclusion on the World Heritage tentative list not only emphasizes that they possess outstanding universal value but also affirms that the U.S. federal government recognizes Dayton’s pivotal role in early aviation history.

On UNESCO’s Tentative List.

In January 2008, the United States Department of the Interior selected four Dayton Aviation sites and a handful of other entities to be added to the United States World Heritage tentative list. The tentative list is comprised of sites that the U.S. Department of the Interior believes meet the criteria of having sufficient cultural or natural “outstanding universal value” to one day be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. All countries with seats on the UNESCO World Heritage Convention have a tentative list. Only sites on a country’s tentative list may be advanced for official World Heritage nomination. Typically, only one site from the list is nominated for consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, per country, per year.

The Dayton Aviation sites are in great company. Sites with monumental historical, cultural, and natural importance like Ellis Island, Mount Vernon, and Central Park are also on the Unites States’ tentative list. Internationally, sites such as the ancient remains of the library of Alexandria in Egypt, the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France, and the Mediterranean Alps in Italy, can be found on the tentative list.

The Sites

The Dayton Aviation sites include four entities: Huffman Prairie Flying Field, the Wright Cycle Company/Wright and Wright Printing, Hawthorn Hill, and the 1905 Wright Flyer III contained in Wright Hall. These entities have outstanding universal value because they retain and preserve critical historical elements that tell the story of the early years of aviation.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field was a cow pasture where the Wright brothers experimented with and perfected their flying machine, the Wright Flyer, in 1904 and 1905. The brothers also used Huffman Prairie as the location of their flying school and exhibition team from 1910-1916. Today, the site is operated by the Dayton Aviation National Historic Park and retains many important aesthetic elements of its historic appearance as a pasture.

The Wright Cycle and Wright and Wright Printing Companies were both operated out of one building, where the Wright brothers not only made bicycles and operated a printing press but also drafted designs for their influential aircraft. The Wright Cycle/Wright and Wright Printing Company building is now also owned and operated by the Dayton Aviation National Historic Park and keeps its historic exterior appearance. Photo credit (Instagram): @onemanramblin

Hawthorn Hill is the home that the brothers designed after their massive success in the world of aviation. Although Wilbur died before the home’s completion, Orville lived at Hawthorn Hill from 1914 until his death in 1948. Today, Hawthorn Hill is operated by Dayton History and, in appearance, little has been altered since Orville’s residence at the home.

Wright Hall, a building within the Wright Brothers National Museum, a Dayton History property, is a structure that was specifically built to house the 1905 Wright Flyer III airplane. Orville’s last major project was restoring and ensuring the future preservation of his most important aircraft and he was successful. Wright Hall and the aircraft still stand today- the building with its original appearance and the aircraft with integrity of its original design and 85% of its original parts.

FAQ

Who nominated the Dayton Aviation sites for the World Heritage tentative list?

The application to join the tentative list was completed by former Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park superintendent, Lawrence Blake, with support from the site owners for the locations included in the nomination. The Department of the Interior then selected the Dayton Aviation sites to be added to the World Heritage tentative list on January 30, 2008.

Are the Dayton Aviation sites the only Ohio properties on the UNESCO tentative list?

No. In 2023, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage list after 15 years on the tentative list. Serpent Mound, a prehistoric effigy mound, in Adams County, Ohio is also on the UNESCO tentative list.

What is the National Aviation Heritage Alliance’s (NAHA) role in this?

NAHA is the local voice and repository of information for the Dayton community regarding the Dayton Aviation Sites’ tentative nomination. At this time, NAHA is not advancing the nomination but is attempting to keep the story of the Dayton sites’ tentative designation alive.

The Dayton Aviation Sites: UNESCO World Heritage Nominee

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