West Carrollton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wright Seaplane Base
Dayton Aviation Heritage Aviation Trail Site
Here on the Miami River in 1913, Orville Wright made the first successful takeoff and landing from water in a Wright Model C airplane fitted with a pontoon. Rivers and lakes could provide no-cost runways for seaplanes, unimpeded by such obstacles as power lines, bridges, buildings, or roads. This stretch of river bends 90 degrees, enabling pilots to take off or land into the wind from nearly any direction.
[Photo caption]
Orville Wright makes adjustments to an early model seaplane flown here from the Miami River in 1913.
Other Aviation Trail Sites
The complete Aviation Trail includes about 45 sites that highlight Dayton and the Miami River valley's significant contributions to the invention of flight and the aviation industry.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 40.952′ N, 84° 13.847′ W. Marker was in West Carrollton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker could be reached from Marina Drive (Interstate 75). Marker is along the Great Miami River Recreation Trail between the southbound ramp for Exit 47 of I-75 and the Great Miami River, about 200 feet north of the "K-Station" restrooms along the trail, and about 500 feet north of VFW Post 3438. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 5441 Marina Dr, Dayton OH 45449, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Wright Model G Seaplane (here, next to this marker); The Wright Seaplane Base / Wright Model G "Aeroboat" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Moraine Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Woody's Market (approx. 0.7 miles away); Historic Blanchard Avenue (approx. 0.9 miles away); Dayton-Wright Airplane Factory (approx. 0.9 miles away); Delco-Light and Frigidaire (approx. one mile away); Johnny Appleseed Site (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Carrollton.
Also see . . .
1. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park. Nation Park Service website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. National Aviation Heritage Area. Website homepage (Submitted on March 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Aviation Places of Interest. Aviation Dayton website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional commentary.
1. No Longer Here
This marker, is no longer located here at this placement.
— Submitted March 3, 2015, by Douglas Williams of Dayton, Ohio.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,208 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on April 5, 2015, by Douglas Williams of Dayton, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.