The impressive “Memphis Belle” B-17 bomber from World War II on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Since launching Dusty Tires in March, I have been constantly accumulating and adding more content. I’ve just added four new pages of content in the Places By Type section — attractions and places to go related to aircraft and aerospace, railroads and trains, automobile and motorcycles, and canals. That makes 46 pages of content and 20 posts published over the past six months!

Transportation has always been crucial to Ohio, situated as it is smack dab in the middle of everything in this country. The canals were first. Ohio’s 1,000-mile network of navigable canals, constructed by men and animals between 1825 and 1847, provided a system of economical transportation where none had previously existed.

The canals transformed Ohio’s isolated frontier economy almost overnight, opening up many markets for the state’s agricultural and industrial products. In addition, the canals provided an easier way for thousands of immigrants to travel to the state. Go to Canal-related attractions.

Railroad museums such as this one in Conneaut document many aspects of Ohio’s railroad history. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Railroads soon overtook the canals. Ohio’s railroad history goes back to 1835, when the first railroad completed in Ohio began construction. By 1850, there were 76 railroad companies chartered, and by 1920, there were more than 9,000 miles of railroad in the state. Go to Railroad-related attractions.

After World War I, automobile use began surging as a result of mass production and construction of better roads. Ohio’s contributions to the automobile industry have been numerous, from Dayton native Charles Kettering’s invention of the electric starter, to Firestone and Goodyear in Akron, two companies that built fortunes on automobile tires. Packard is one notable automobile manufacturer with roots in Ohio that lasted past the Depression years; it folded in 1958 but left a legacy of two Ohio museums. Go to Automobile and motorcycle-related attractions.

Finally, the aircraft industry was born in Ohio due to the efforts of the Wright brothers and many others. Ohio is known as the Birthplace of Aviation, with the legacy of the Wright Brothers; Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly around the world; World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker; the Tuskegee Airmen, who were based at Rickenbacker Air Force Base; astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn, and many others. Go to Aircraft/aerospace-related attractions.

The places listed in Dusty Tires relating to these four areas of transportation are not only museums, although there are some truly world-class ones. There are also canal boat and sternwheel boat rides, train rides, massive model railroad layouts, and some nearly priceless automobiles on display. There are also lots of friendly volunteers working at these mostly non-profit organizations who will be glad to show you around.

Two places I would especially recommend are the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Ind. Most people have heard of and visited the U.S. Air Force Museum, but it’s worth repeat visits as it houses much more than one can view in a single day. Viewing and walking through the presidential aircraft alone is worth the trip.

The automobile museum is not in Ohio, but it’s only a few miles over the border and well worth the meander. There are some truly jaw-dropping classic automobiles at this museum, which is itself an historic Art Deco building. I haven’t been to Ohio’s two Packard museums yet, but I plan to do so.

I also plan to add more content into Dusty Tires. Right now I am thinking of adding categories for vinyl record stores, independent bookstores, comic book shops, caves and other unique natural features, roadside attractions, fabric and quilt shops, major public gardens/arboretums and waterfalls. Let me know if you have ideas for interesting and unique places you’d like to see compiled and included in Dusty Tires.

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Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

All rights reserved, Dusty Tires (dusty-tires.com), 2023.