Stamp the PastPlay free
Places › Dayton, OH

Wright Cycle Company Building: then and now

1897 vs 2010 · Dayton, OH

Wright Cycle Company Building, 2010Wright Cycle Company Building, 1897
NowThen
Then, 1897Orville Wright (right) and Edwin Sines at work in the brothers' shop in 1897. This photo is from their later shop on West Third Street, not this building.Photo: Wright brothers · Public domain · Source · resized
Today, 2010The 1886 brick building at 22 South Williams Street, the only one of the Wrights' six shops still standing on its original spot.Photo: Nyttend · Public domain · Source · resized

The story

The building at 22 South Williams Street was built in 1886. The Wright brothers rented it from 1895 to 1897. The bicycle store was on the main floor, and their printing shop was on the second floor.

In 1896, while they were here, the brothers started selling bicycles of their own design, the Van Cleve and the St. Clair.

This is the only one of the Wrights' six shops still standing, and the only one still on its original foundation. The Wright Flyer was not built here. It was built at their last shop, on West Third Street. This building became a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

Did you know? It is the only one of the Wrights' six shops still standing on its original spot.
Historians argue about this. Many people think the Wrights built their first airplane in this shop. Wikipedia says the Wright Flyer was built at their last shop, at 1127 West Third Street.

Fact or tall tale?

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Wright Cycle Company Building can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

Play Dayton

More in Dayton

Next: Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.