The name Wapakoneta means “Place of White Bones”. The land was first settled by the Miami Indian Tribe which moved to Indiana in 1782. The Shawnee Tribe then moved to the area and under the leadership of Chief Blue Jacket and Chief Black Hoof, built a Council House in Wapakoneta. In 1832 this Tribe migrated to Missouri. Wapakoneta was on route from Detroit to Cincinnati and had a large Quaker mission that was established in 1809. Fort Amanda was constructed in 1812 to protect the northwest from the British. In 1815, Peter Hammel moved from Canada to Wapakoneta and built a store for settlers. A trading house, mill and blacksmith shop followed. Platting of the village began in 1833 and the town was chartered in 1849. The area grew with the help of the railroad as an agricultural service center. Factories were established that produced bricks, brooms, wagon wheels, carriages, cheese, soda pop, automotive parts and other goods for shipment throughout the world. The community is proud to have astronaut Neil Armstrong as a native son. The town has a population of 9,900 residents.
There are many 19th and 29th century homes that represent the German heritage of the town. For those interested in more modern home styles, one finds ranch style and two-story homes of all price ranges. Homes on acreage are also available.
Transportation
I-75 is the closest interstate. SR 33 bisects the town. The Neil Armstrong Airport services the area.
Hospitals
Springfield Regional Medical Center services the area. Madison Health Hospital is located in London, Ohio.
Shopping
The town has many local stores and restaurants and many people enjoy shopping in historic “downtown” Wapakoneta. A farmer’s marketing is located in Heritage Park near this historic district.
Recreation
Wapakoneta WaterPark is a cool place to visit on a hot day. The Armstrong Air and Space Museum is located in town and showcases Ohio’s contributions to the history of space flight. The Gemini 8 spacecraft as well as Apollo 11 artifacts and a moon rock are available for viewing. The Summer Moon Festival is held in July and features many live music acts along with beer, cider and wine. Heritage Park has 40 acres of land and water to enjoy.
Lifestyle
Check out these local highlights by area experts!
Explore Nearby Communities
Dayton, OH
Arts & Entertainment
Dayton Cultural Center - Find out news and information on events being held throughout town and on the Dayton scene.
Dayton Playhouse - Become a part of the playhouse tradition and experience the talent and craft of this community theatre.
Schuster Performing Arts Center - Visit the home of Dayton’s Opera, Philharmonic Orchestra and other local performing arts treasures at one of the nation’s most remarkable performing arts centers.
Dayton Ballet - Treat yourself to performances by the second oldest dance company in the country.
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company - The DCDC was founded in 1968 with the belief that dance transcends the boundaries of race and culture.
Dayton Opera - Providing the best in opera experience for over 40 years.
Dayton Theatre Guild - The Theatre Guild’s performances are nearing 400 total productions of live theater. Anyone with a passion for theater is welcome either as a spectator or participant regardless of prior experience.
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra - Inspire your imagination with musical sounds from one of the city’s most distinguished cultural institutions.
Fraze Pavilion - Come and celebrate 16 years of premiere outdoor entertainment held in this 4,300 seat amphitheater.
Muse Machine - This nationally recognized arts education organization serves 70,000 students annually in 13 counties of southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky.
Nutter Center - Don’t miss an opportunity to visit Ohio’s premier spot for sports, concerts and family events.
Human Race Theatre - In its 20th season the Human Race Theatre Company brings the beauty, drama and excitement of professional live theatre to Dayton and southwestern Ohio.
Victoria Theatre Association - Located in the historic Victoria Theatre, the Victoria Theatre Association is Dayton’s premier arts organization for audiences of all ages.
Museums & Attractions
Attractions List from Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau
Wright Patterson Air Force Museum - Visit the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum for FREE.
Dayton Air Show - Enjoy a day full of aviation fun held every July.
RiverScape - As one of the Five Rivers MetroParks, Riverscape is dedicated to protecting and inspiring appreciation in Dayton’s natural heritage.
Dayton Art Institute - Visit the art institute often to enjoy world-class special exhibitions, educational programs, special events and their diverse permanent collection.
Dayton Visual Arts Center - The Visual Arts Center is a group of artists and art lovers who believe that a vital visuals arts community is essential to the life of the community.
Fifth Street Gallery - Home to Stivers School for the Arts which offers programs in music, dance, theater, and visual arts as well as quality academics for grades 7-12.
High Street Gallery - This historic gallery is the site of many art shows held either privately or by the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors.
K12 Gallery for Young People - The K12 gallery, a vibrant organization aimed toward stretching the creative minds of Dayton’s youth, provides them with a true sense of community belonging and respect.
Rutledge Gallery - Located in downtown Dayton, the Rutledge Gallery features an assortment of diverse, original art by talented artists in all mediums.
Sunwatch Indian Village />Archaeological Park - A partially-reconstructed American Indian Village which occupied the Middle Ohio River Valley between about AD 1000 and AD 1650; and the Heilman-Kettering Interpretive Center featuring exhibits with artifacts recovered from the site.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery - Children and adults can explore the wonders of the world with a live animal zoo, the region’s only Planetarium, interactive science and technology exhibits, and more under one roof!
Sports & Recreation
Sports
Dayton Dragons - Visit Day Air Park Ballpark and watch the baseball stars of tomorrow as they play on this minor league team for the Cincinnati Reds.
University of Dayton Athletics - Ranked among the top 10 in the academic performance of athletes in the country, the university’s Flyer teams win both on the field and in the classroom.
Wright State University Athletics - These NCAA Division I student-athletes post outstanding successes in the classroom with almost half honored each year with academic recognition.
Parks and Recreation
U.S. Air Force Museum - The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located near Dayton, Ohio, is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world.
Five Rivers Metro Parks - MetroParks is leading the protection and stewardship of Greater Dayton’s open spaces and natural heritage through conservation efforts, recreation and education.
Woodland Arboretum and Cemetery - Founded in 1841 the Woodland Cemetery is one of America’s first and most historic cemeteries.
Carillon Historical Park - Carillon Historical Park celebrates the history of invention, transportation, and pioneer life in Dayton and the Miami Valley.
Dayton Aviation Heritage - Stop by and hear the stories of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Whatever your time frame - Dayton Aviation is sure to have something for you to see and do.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery - Visit a museum full of interactive science learning that enriches the lives of both children and adults.
The Packard Museum - Come and see the world's only restored Packard Dealership operating as a museum, and only full-time museum dedicated exclusively to the products and philosophies of the Packard Motor Car Company.
Business & Media
Business Organizations
www.daytonregion.com - Find out everything you need to know about starting, growing or moving a business to the Dayton area.
Dayton Chamber Of Commerce - This 5 Star Accredited Chamber represents over 3,000 organizations in the Dayton region and provides advice on starting and growing business.
Dayton Convention And Visitors Bureau - See what Dayton’s big city amenities, midwestern charm and hospitality have to offer.
Newspapers
Dayton Daily News - Follow all of the news in Dayton either in black and white or on the web.
Radio & TV
WHIO - TV - Dayton Daily News reports bulletins and broadcasts each and every day in its newspapers, cable TV and the internet.
WKEF - TV - Dayton’s source for news, weather, traffic, sports, entertainment and more.
WDTN - TV - Get your news from the only station awarded the Edward R. Murrow award for Overall Excellence for the past two consecutive years.
WMMX 107.7 - Dayton’s best source for modern music and news on the radio.
Weather Channel (Dayton) - Provides the greater Dayton area with up to the minute weather reports and severe weather updates.