Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Ñaño house with mausoleum skull in foreground.
Ñaño Casa Museo
Honningsvåg Bamse Statue
Honningsvåg Bamse Statue
The salt cairn.
The Lewis and Clark Salt Works
South entrance.
Reigate Tunnel
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
Meet the Volunteers Who Keep Thru-Hikers Moving
10 days ago
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?
10 days ago
A woman peering into the cave of Sarah Bishop c. 1900.
The Curious History of New England’s Hermit Tourism
10 days ago
The Big Well
This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.
11 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All the United States Ohio Dayton

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Dayton

6 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Dayton, Ohio

Updated February 14, 2024

Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Dayton

Dayton, Ohio

The Avrocar

A real flying saucer, contracted by the U.S. Air Force.
The original Air Force One.

Dayton, Ohio

SAM 26000

You can walk through the first Boeing Air Force One, which famously carried JFK's casket from Dallas back to D.C.

Dayton, Ohio

Grave of Johnny Morehouse

A headstone tells the sad story of a lost little boy and his pet dog.
Wright Company Factory in 2014.

Dayton, Ohio

Wright Company Factory

The world's first aircraft factory has been hiding inside an automobile plant for almost 80 years.

Dayton, Ohio

"Stumpy" John Silver

This stuffed pigeon of war had the very serious name "John Silver" until he lost a leg in battle.
Original Wright Brothers Homestead

Dayton, Ohio

Original Wright Brothers Homestead

The childhood home of the Wright Brothers in Dayton.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
The Mark 39 bomb.

Riverside, Ohio

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Inside houses a vast collection of military aircraft and missiles spanning the ages.
4 miles from Dayton
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Take to the Skies With These 9 Gravity-Defying Sites in Ohio

Sure, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, got headlines, but the Wright Brothers were Ohioans through and through. That's where they had their print and cycle shop, and established the world's first airplane factory. From Dayton's Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, to NASA's Glenn Research Center, to Congress officially declaring Ohio the “birthplace of aviation,” and much more, no other state takes to the skies and beyond like the home of the Buckeyes. Here are some of our favorite places to feel the wind beneath your wings.

View Itinerary
The Avrocar hovered, but never really lifted off in a big way.

Explore Dayton, Ohio

A
Animals 2
Aircraft 2
Airplanes 2

Dayton Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. canuck
    1
  2. MattB
    1
  3. mdw
    1
  4. leighannajane
    1
  5. kitrey
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Dayton.

Places Edited

  1. michaelnhartman
    2
  2. Ahuntley
    2
  3. shaunk82
    2
  4. mordred350
    1
  5. mdw
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. wummewenders
    6
  2. sheilacostelloe
    6
  3. andrewbellus
    6
  4. kevbot
    6
  5. QueenShameless
    6
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Dayton.

Recent Dayton Activity

  • sarahhenness

    has been to SAM 26000

    3 days ago
  • mjpowers0903

    has been to "Stumpy" John Silver

    2 days ago
  • mjpowers0903

    has been to The Avrocar

    2 days ago
  • dannie7

    wants to go to The Avrocar

    about 13 hours ago
  • RCES0529

    has been to SAM 26000

    about 11 hours ago

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.