Considering the major corporations that make their headquarters in Greater Dayton, and the fact that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is located in the area, it s not surprising that Dayton has one of the highest concentrations of technical experts in the world and outranks cities double its size in the number of patents issued. African-American writer and poet laureate and boyhood friend of the Wright brothers, is among the many other prominent people for whom Dayton is home. His home is a museum that offers a glimpse into his life as a writer. Then there s author John Jakes, baseball star Mike Schmidt, actor Martin Sheen and witty author and syndicated columnist Erma Bombeck, all of whom have called Greater Dayton home. The Dayton arts community rivals those of larger metropolitan areas and continues to thrive into an even greater arts and cultural center that will awe visitors well into the next millennium.
Future plans call for a new performing arts center downtown.
At the heart of this center will be a 2,200-seat theater that will provide a home for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Opera Company, and a venue for the Victoria Theatre Association to present large touring shows. More exciting things are happening in downtown Dayton. Last year, construction started on the RiverScape development project, which will inject even greater vitality into Dayton s already flourishing downtown. Highlights of this first phase of development include a Festival Plaza, a Five Rivers Fountain, an Inventors Walk and a pedestrian area. This year, Dayton will once again be home to professional, minor-league baseball.