DAYTON, Ohio — The National Aviation Hall of Fame has entered into a partnership that turns the daily operations of the Hall of Fame’s Learning Center over to Dayton History, effective Jan. 1, 2015.
Located at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the 14,500-square-foot NAHF Learning Center features displays, flight simulators, and interactive exhibits that honor its 225 enshrinees.
The agreement includes Dayton History’s integration of the NAHF volunteers into its volunteer association, providing a full-time Education Department staff member, and enhancing the historical interpretation and education programming within the center.
The NAHF’s various annual award and outreach activities, including its enshrinement selection process and ceremonies, public events at the Reno Air Races, Oshkosh, and the National Business Aviation Association convention, and other educational programs, will remain under the direction of the Hall of Fame’s board of trustees, according to officials.
NAHF Chairman of the Board, William R. Harris pointed out that with free admission and parking, the NAHF benefits from being located at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, which attracts over 1 million visitors a year.
“We are delighted to build on that with Dayton History’s help, and to further expand the Hall of Fame’s ability to inspire future leaders,” he said.
Dayton History is Montgomery County’s official historical organization. The organization boasts multiple campuses in the greater Dayton, Ohio area: Carillon Historical Park, Hawthorn Hill, the Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site, the Patterson Homestead, the Old Court House, Memorial Hall and the Archive Center.
The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Dayton in 1962 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1964. Since 1962, it has inducted more than 200 of the nation’s air and space pioneers, including the Wrights, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.