DAYTON — The Auglaize County Historical Society will take to the road for its annual spring bus trip on Thursday, April 25. This year, the Historical Society will celebrate the anniversary year of Apollo 11 with a trip to Dayton, where human flight began. The price is $63 for ACHS members, and $73 for non–members.

The itinerary for the day will include a stop at The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center & Aviation Trail Visitor Center. Visitors will learn about Orville and Wilbur Wright and Paul Lawrence Dunbar (who later became an internationally renowned African-American poet). The exhibits highlight the interconnected lives of the three men and the West Side neighborhood in which the center is located.

The Aviation Trail Parachute Museum reveals the development of the free fall parachute from its invention at Dayton’s McCook Field after World War I to the vital role it plays in safely landing today’s spacecraft.

The Wright Cycle Company is one of only two original Wright Brothers’ buildings standing at their original locations in Dayton. The brothers manufactured bicycles and operated a printing business here. During this time, the Wright Brothers also took their first steps in developing the airplane.

Before lunch, the group will make a side trip to view the historic buildings at the Dayton Veterans Administration. The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (NHDVS) was made possible by congressional legislation signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865. Many of the buildings at the Dayton facility are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Deli at Second Street Market is located in a converted 106-year-old freight depot, part of Webster Station’s original historic venue. The exposed brick and wooden beams offer a glimpse into Dayton’s industrial history while maintaining a rustic atmosphere.

The spring lunch will include turkey, ham, and roast beef sandwiches, with assorted cheeses and breads. Accompanying the sandwiches will be the Deli’s housemade pasta salad and cole slaw, and a dessert tray of lemon bars, rockslide brownies, and assorted cookies. Drinks will include water, lemonade, iced tea, and coffee. The Deli’s food consistently receives Five Star ratings. If time allows, tourgoers will have the opportunity to visit the 40 vendors at the Second Street Market, as well.

After lunch, the bus will be off to Carillon Park and the Wright Brothers National Museum, which houses more artifacts associated with the Wright Brothers than any other location in the world. Its extra special attraction is the original 1905 Wright Flyer III—the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark.

Tourgoers will be joined by a step-on guide, who will highlight historic sites and neighborhoods across Dayton, including beautiful Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. Then, the group will visit Huffman Prairie Flying Field, where the Wright Brothers continued the development of the airplane.

The signature ice cream stop at the end of day will be Jubie’s Creamery, which creates its ice cream one small batch at a time in order to provide unique, always-fresh flavors among many other traditional tasty treats.

The historical society’s charter bus will leave the north end of the Armstrong Museum parking lot in Wapakoneta at 7:45 a.m. and return at approximately 7 p.m. Those interested in participating should contact the Historical Society, at [email protected], for a registration form or visit Auglaize County Historical Society on Facebook.

For more information about this event, contact the Auglaize County Historical Society at 419-738-9328.