Huffman Field
Also known as: Simms-Wright Station or Wright Memorial Site; Huffman Prairie
Why it's listed
Huffman Field is a small, level, grass-covered plot of 0.52 acre at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Fairborn, Ohio. It was once a farm meadow, and a cement pylon now marks the spot of the hangar that Wilbur and Orville Wright erected here in 1904-05. At this field they built a heavier airplane and, after many flights and improvements, made the first circular flight on September 20, 1904. On October 5, 1905, they flew 24.2 miles in 38 minutes, a performance that made their machine the first practical airplane. They also added an aileron-type control system and patented it. A later hangar, built near the Yellow Springs and Springfield pikes, supported a training school where early pilots learned to fly. The first air cargo shipment, to Columbus, left from the field on November 7, 1910. The surrounding land became part of the military field established in 1917, and the site was set aside in 1938 as a memorial tract to the brothers.
Significance in brief: Here the Wright brothers built a heavier airplane in 1904-05 and made the first circular flight on September 20, 1904. A 38-minute, 24.2-mile flight followed on October 5, 1905, which the form calls the world's first practical airplane. The field later served as an early flying school, the origin of the first air cargo shipment, and a World War I pilot training site.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000640, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 1 mi. SW of Fairborn, Fairborn |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000640 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1904-10 |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Military, Invention, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 21, 1990 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as very good; level grass-covered ground with a cement pylon where the 1904-05 hangar stood. The original hangar has been torn down. |
| Acreage | 84.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.80350, -84.06570 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000640.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11326651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.