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Dayton History Unveils Wright Brothers National Museum

From right to left: Congressman Mike Turner, Stephen Wright, Amanda Wright-Lane, Brady Kress.
Jerry Kenney
/
WYSO
From right to left: Congressman Mike Turner, Stephen Wright, Amanda Wright-Lane, Brady Kress.

The city’s aviation heritage was on full display Friday morning as Dayton History officials announced Carillon Park is now home to the John W. Berry, Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum.

Formerly known as the Wright Brothers Aviation Center, the federal designation as a national museum is a “game-changer,” says Dayton History President Brady Kress.

Republican 10th District Congressman Mike Turner, and Dayton Foundation President Michael Parks, were on hand for the unveiling. Also present were Wright Brothers' descendants, the great-grandnephew and great-grandniece Stephen Wright and Amanda Wright-Lane.

"I think we’ve always felt like Dayton History quietly had some of the best toys or treasures that are still left from the Wright Brothers story in terms of the camera that took the picture at Kitty Hawk in 1903, and the ‘05 Flyer’ that truely ushered in practical aviation,” she says.

Stephen Wright, who serves the Dayton History board of directors, agrees.

"I think this park is certainly deserving of this designation and of this collection in particular, with the help of the Dayton Foundation, Virginia Toulmin’s fund and the Berry family, they’ve made that happen,” he says.

The national designation of the museum comes after several legislative attempts over the last five years, according to Turner and Kress.

Dayton History Unveils Wright Brothers National Museum

Final approval came in 2017 when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law. Listen to the full unveiling ceremony here.

 

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Jerry Kenney was introduced to WYSO by a friend and within a year of first tuning in became an avid listener and supporter. He began volunteering at the station in 1991 and began hosting Alpha Rhythms in February of 1992. Jerry joined the WYSO staff in 2007 as a host of All Things Considered and soon transitioned into hosting Morning Edition. In addition to now hosting All Things Considered, Jerry is the host and producer of WYSO Weekend, WYSO's weekly news and arts magazine. He has also produced several radio dramas for WYSO in collaboration with local theater companies. Jerry has won several Ohio AP awards as well as an award from PRINDI for his work with the WYSO news department. Jerry says that the best part of his job is being able to talk to people in the community and share their experiences with WYSO listeners.