Dayton Area Arts and Learning Opportunities for Seniors

One of the best aspects of retirement is the time seniors have to enjoy the best things in life like the arts and learning. In the Dayton-Kettering area seniors have so many options it may be difficult to decide which to experience first. For some the performing arts top the list, but others relish the tranquility of museums and galleries, while others can’t wait to immerse themselves in opportunities to learn and grow. In many cases, the Dayton area arts and learning opportunities can be combined to make the experience richer and more fulfilling.

Dayton’s arts scene

Since its founding in 1919, the Dayton Art Institute has become one of the eminent fine art museums in Ohio. Presenting collections that span 5,000 years of art history from around the world, the DAI also offers engaging exhibitions, hands-on opportunities through the Lange Family Experiencenter, annual events like the Art Ball and Oktoberfest, concerts, group tours, and much more.

Dayton’s arts include live theatre year-round offering a diverse array of performances for theatre lovers of all ages. One of the most beautiful and historic theatre venues is the Victoria Theatre, which dates to 1866 and has presented performances from such famous actors as Harry Houdini, Sarah Bernhardt and Mark Twain. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this gem of the Dayton arts scene hosts performances by the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, as well as a variety of Broadway shows, family-oriented performances, and entertaining films.

Also among Dayton’s arts options is the Dayton Theatre Guild featuring year-round live theater and specializing in unique and unusual productions designed to captivate and entertain. This 80-year-old organization in the center of the Oregon District is an all-volunteer group from performers to crews and management and welcomes anyone with an interest in great theater to participate.

No look at Dayton’s arts is complete without the art of history, and the Dayton-Kettering area has plenty to offer. As the birthplace of the Wright brothers, it’s no surprise that their incredible fetes are celebrated through the Wright Brothers National Museum, a National Historic Landmark. Housed in the Carillon Historical Park, visitors to the museum can witness the world’s largest collection of Wright brother’s artifacts,  the original 1905 Wright Flyer III built by Orville Wright (the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark), as well as a replica of the brother’s bicycle shop circa 1936, the original of which is now at the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

The art of flight is also on display at the world’s largest military aviation museum, the National Museum of the United States Air Force. This truly mammoth museum offers an amazing array of flight-related artifacts and more than 350 aerospace vehicles from the earliest years of flight through four wars and more. Also intriguing are the galleries specializing in missiles, space flight, research and development, presidential aircraft, and the Air Park exhibit featuring a variety of aircraft, and a WWII Air Force Control Tower and Nissen hut. In addition, the museum also honors Air Force veterans at the Memorial Park and offers many other U.S. Air Force exhibits throughout the complex.

Another unique part of Dayton’s arts scene is the Walton House Museum in nearby Centerville.  For a look back at what life was like in the mid-19^th century, the restored home of William and Miriam Walton offers an immersive historical experience from the structural architecture to the furniture to the art and beautiful backyard gardens. Visitors will also find it interesting that the wallpaper in the dining room of the Walton House dining room matches that used in George Washington’s Mt. Vernon home.

Never stop learning

Many seniors view retirement as the perfect time to pursue intellectual interest through lifelong learning. One of the best places to do that is at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton. Designed specifically for people age 50 and older the Institute offers graduate and undergraduate level classes and seminars on a wide variety of subjects year-round for the joy of learning without any prerequisites, grades or exams. Members can also take advantage of workshops, conferences, and teleconferences and have access to university resources like plays, concerts, libraries, exhibits, and more.

Seniors can also participate in educational programs for adults at the Dayton Art Institute which offers events, classes, workshops, and programs with tours and discussions, and the Carillon Historical Park where seniors can learn about Dayton’s history, access the treasures of the archives, and attend a variety of historical programs and activities throughout the year.

Dayton’s arts are rich and diverse and make the Dayton-Kettering area and One Lincoln Park perfect for retirement. Contact us to learn more and schedule a tour.