Photo by Jeremy White Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park 2024 Total Eclipse Watch PartyOn April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Texas to Maine. The path of totality will cross over 27 park units as it makes its way across Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park will be in the path of totality for the 2024 Total Eclipse and we hope you can join us for the fun. Explore YOUR national park, take in the programming and activities, or simply kick back and watch the main event! Visit the park the day of the eclipse, or join one of our watch parties, to receive a free pair of eclipse viewing glasses. Check back often as we add more locations and event information. What is a Total Solar EclipseA solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, temporarily blocking the sun and casting its shadow on Earth. The moon travels an elliptical orbit around the Earth so the distance between the two is not constant. From our perspective on earth when the moon is closer to us, it appears bigger and can block more of the sun’s light. It aligns perfectly with the sun resulting in a total solar eclipse. When the moon's orbit is further from the Earth it does not completely obscure the sun, thus an annular eclipse occurs (as seen on October 14, 2023). Visit NASA.gov for more information about the 2024 total eclipse. 
NPS Watch Party LocationsWright-Dunbar Watch Party16 South Williams Street
Presentations include:What makes an eclipse, and why do they matter?The unusual geometry of the Sun, Earth, and Moon make the eclipses that we see from Earth unique in the solar system. This talk explores what makes eclipses happen, how we predict them, what we've learned from previous eclipses and why astronomers still study them. History of eclipses and eclipses in historyMany ancient cultures believed our eclipses to be caused by dragons or bears eating the Sun or that they represented the anger of the gods with humanity. Major battles were even halted due to unexpected eclipses, and the deaths of kings and religious figures blamed on them. Slowly the real physical nature of the phenomenon began to be understood, and now eclipses can have a new use: dating events in ancient history.
Eclipses and RelativityDid you know that a solar eclipse was key to proving Einstein's theory of General Relativity correct? This talk about the two eclipse expeditions made over 100 years ago to make the test, what they did and why, and what they found. Wright Memorial Watch Party2380 Memorial Road, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Huffman Prairie Flying Field Watch PartyGate 16A, off of 444 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Please see our directions page for more information about how to easily access the park.Located in west-central Ohio, the park is easily accessible via I-70, I-75 or US Route 35. The main park visitor center, Wright Dunbar Interpretive Center, is located at S. Williams St. and W. Third St. in Dayton. 
Miami University Ohio Writing Project and the Total EclipseCalling all Educators!The Ohio Writing Project is a site of the National Writing Project at Miami University. OWP is a network of K-12 Teachers, university faculty, researchers, and writers working to advance writing and the teaching of writing. On April 8, 2024, much of the OWP teacher community will be near or in the total solar eclipse path.We can't think of a better reason to read, write and create.In partnership with the Dayton Aviation National Heritage Park and the National Writing Project, OWP teachers have created resources you can use in your classroom connected to the big day. Resources include information about the OWP eclipse day, Saturday April 6th at the park, an online collaborative writing space designed by the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State and featuring the Dunbar poem, and OWP resources that you can easily use in your classroom to read, write or create with the eclipse in mind. A focus of many of the resources is Dunbar's poem, "A Madrigal" which features the line, "All the world is in eclipse."Check them out here. 
NPS Become a Junior Ranger Eclipse ExplorerThe Eclipse Junior Ranger program will be offered at Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP as well as other participating National Park Service sites in the path of the April 8, 2024 eclipse. Stop into the park daily to pick up your book, or join us one of our ranger-led Eclipse Ranger programs. For a list of sites participating in the program please follow this link: Eclipse Explorer Junior Ranger Program, and to participate at home download your own Eclipse Explorer Booklet and printable badge today! Total Eclipse Events and ActivitiesJump to date
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NPS Photo Frequently Asked QuestionsWill special areas be designed in the park to view the eclipse?No, but we are holding three watch parties in the park to offer safe viewing and additional opportunities to explore. The watch parties will occur at the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, and at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field.How close will parking be to the designated viewing areas, and how will they be marked?While the park does not have designated viewing areas, each of the watch parties will have banners and other info booths at each location.Wright-Dunbar Watch Party: There is significant street parking around the park, as well as public lots. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Watch Party: Parking limited at Simms Station, and so we ask that guests please use the large gravel lot at the Rod & Gun Club if the lot is full.Wright Memorial Watch Party: Parking is limited in the lot and will be focused to accessibility; a large parking lot will be available using the open area east of the visitor center.Should heavy traffic be expected?We recommend carpooling and arriving early to find parking closest to where you'd like to be. Traffic could be heavy at the start end of the of the eclipse, and highways may be congested due to eclipse watchers from other areas coming into the path of totality.How many people do you expect to be in the park for Totality?We are expecting anywhere from 300-1000 people over the course of the day.Will food services, restrooms, water, and other services be available?Food services will be available at the food hall adjacent to the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center. Water and restroom services will be available at all three watch parties. Water will be limited at Huffman Prairie Flying Field so please bring snacks and water if you plan on attending.Will areas be designated for the setup of telescopes?There will be a designated area for telescopes at the Wright-Dunbar Watch Party, but participants are free to set up telescopes in grassy areas at the Wright Memorial and Huffman Prairie watch parties.Will the park host special programs and activities for kids or families before or after Totality?Yes, please check our calendar or our Facebook page for more information on programs before the eclipse day. On April 8, there will be activities for kids and adults to learn about the eclipse and have fun both before and after Totality!Can eclipse related merchandise be purchased in the park: books, stickers, postcards, magnets, etc.? Yes! Eclipse-related merchandise can be purchased at the park bookstore at the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center. Where can I get eclipse safety glasses? The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, and the Huffman Prairie will have safe solar viewing glasses for free on the day of the eclipse. Does the park have an ink cancellation and a sticker stamp for my National Parks passport book? Yes! The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center has the ink cancellation and stick stamp in the bookstore right now, and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field will have a cancellation on Eclipse Day. Can I bring my pet?Pets are allowed on the grounds but must always remain on a leash. Pets are not allowed in any of the buildings.What happens if it is cloudy on the day of the Eclipse? There will still be plenty of fun! The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center will have two experts from the NASA SCoPE program giving talks about the Eclipse throughout the day and a NASA livestream of the Eclipse from southern Texas. The Junior Ranger Eclipse Explorer program will also still be available. Learn More About Solar EclipsesShowing results 1-9 of 9
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Last updated: April 12, 2024