Here is a list of makers celebrated at both Carillon Historical Park and Dayton Mini Maker Faire, highlighting the tremendous past and present of Dayton making.
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THE PAST
1. The Wright brothers: Wilbur and Orville Wright lived and worked and died in Dayton, and Carillon Historical Park has more Wright family artifacts on display than any place in the world, including the 1905 Wright Flyer III. Gifted to the park by Orville Wright, the 1905 Wright Flyer III is the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark, the world's first practical flying machine, and what the Wright brothers considered their most important aircraft.
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2. Charles F. Kettering: By 1900, there were only 150 miles of asphalt-paved road in the entire nation. When Daytonian Charles F. Kettering invented the self-starter, the automobile boomed into the 20th century. Kettering worked on the self-starter alongside Carillon Historical Park founder Col. Edward A. Deeds, Bill Chryst, and "the Barn Gang" in an old barn outside Deeds' home. Deeds Barn is now located at Carillon Historical Park.
3. James Ritty: In 1879, Daytonian James Ritty invented the cash register. Known as the Ritty Dial, the machine was designed to prevent employees from pilfering profits at Ritty's saloon. In 1884, John H. and Frank Patterson purchased controlling interest in Ritty's company, National Manufacturing Co., and changed the name to National Cash Register (NCR). By the turn of the 20th, one-sixth of the nation's corporate executives had spent a portion of their career at NCR. Carillon Historical Park has a huge collection of cash registers, including the 1879 Ritty Dial.
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THE PRESENT
1. David Picciuto: The popular Make Something YouTube star, author, and Making It podcast host, will be the headline celebrity speaker at Dayton Mini Maker Faire.
2. Boneyard Build-Off: The main highlight of the Dayton Mini Maker Faire is the Boneyard Build-Off, a Junkyard Wars-style competition where professional makers race against the clock to complete a project using repurposed and recycled materials. Six teams participate, and attendees can either watch in person or across the park via video feed (provided by local amateur radio operators).
3. The Wright Stuff Rocketeers: The Wright Stuff Rocketeers will once again have their 300-by-300-foot model rocket launch zone. For a small fee, visitors can build their own rocket and launch it on the green space surrounding Deeds Carillon (near the entrance to Carillon Historical Park). Fun side note: The grounds surrounding Deeds Carillon were originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the famed landscape architects responsible for Central Park.
4. Proto BuildBar: Proto bills itself as the world's first BuildBar, a creative experience center featuring 3D printing, electronics kits, and micro-computing in a full-service café environment. Proto will provide the Learn to Solder area at Dayton Mini Maker Faire once again this year.
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5. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association: Founders of Hamvention, the world's largest ham radio convention, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association are sponsoring a 40-by-40-foot HAM radio pavilion where you can build a free crystal radio kit.
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Want to go?
WHAT: Dayton Mini Maker Faire
WHEN: Aug. 5-6 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH
COST: The Dayton Mini Maker Faire is included with daily admission to Carillon Historical Park. $8 per adult (ages 18-59), $7 per senior, $5 per child (3 –17). Children under 3 and Dayton History members are FREE.
MORE INFO: http://dayton.makerfaire.com/
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