DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) joined Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr., Montgomery County Commissioners Judy Dodge, Carolyn Rice, and Mary McDonald, Dayton History President and CEO Brady Kress, and Dayton Society of Natural History President and CEO Tracey Tomme to announce that the Old Montgomery County Courthouse will be transformed into a special historical exhibit during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session.
The exhibit, titled “Dayton Around the World,” will feature artifacts and stories that celebrate Dayton’s legacy, from the Wright Brothers’ groundbreaking innovations in aviation to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, as well as historical items from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
“As downtown is transformed into the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting for the assembly’s spring session, the ‘Dayton Around the World’ will feature artifacts and stories that will celebrate Dayton‘s legacy from our pioneering role in aviation and innovation to our proud role in advancing peace through the Dayton Peace Accords,” said Congressman Turner.
“Being the mayor, one of the things that we always try to do on a consistent basis is making Dayton the best place for someone to live, work, play, be educated, raise a family, and grow old,” said Mayor Mims. “Now, with more than 1,000 people coming here in the next few weeks, I think some of them will probably want to stay.”
“Our meeting in Dayton will serve as an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of NATO for North America and for Europe and the work of legislators on both sides of the Atlantic to keep our citizens safe,” said Marcos Perestrello, President, NATO Parliamentary Assembly. “As this exhibition will illustrate, for 70 years, the Assembly has carried the voice of Allied parliamentarians and promoted a strong NATO grounded in our shared democratic values and fit to address the challenges of today and tomorrow. Here in Dayton, we also look forward to commemorating 30 years since the Dayton Peace Accords have brought peace back to the Western Balkans and highlighting NATO’s essential role in support of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.”
“The old Montgomery County Courthouse is one of Dayton’s iconic and significant landmarks,” said Commissioner Dodge. “It’s stunning Greek revival architecture completed in 1847 has stood as a symbol of our city’s strength, resilience, and historical importance for generations. But beyond its beauty, the courthouse holds stories and reflects the defining moments of Dayton’s legal, political, and cultural development.”
“By opening the doors of the Old Montgomery County Courthouse to the public, we're not only honoring the past, but we're making it accessible and relevant to the next generation,” said Commissioner Rice. “This is especially important for our young people. When students walk through these halls and see exhibits that showcase both local innovation and natural history, they can see themselves as part of that ongoing story.”
“You see so many working hard to invite our visitors in to make a difference,” said Commissioner McDonald. “This will be our priming point moment to be able to say, Montgomery County specifically, really, is the place of innovation and often, a lot of great and informative opportunity.”
“We are thrilled to not only invite Daytonians, but also these folks from around the world that are going to see how Dayton has impacted their lives, as well as the folks here in Dayton.” said Kress. “There's no better place to do that, to showcase that then one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the country, and that is Montgomery County's Old Courthouse."
“We are excited to partner with not only the historical history of Dayton, but the natural history of this area to share with the world,” said Tomme. “And thank you, Congressman Turner and to Brady Kress with Dayton history for partnering on this really cool project.”
Background:
Dayton History and the Dayton Society of Natural History have partnered with the Truman and Clinton Presidential Libraries to create the “Dayton Around the World” exhibit at the Old Montgomery County Courthouse.
The exhibit will feature a curated collection of original and replica documents, historic photographs, and a variety of geologic and fossil specimens discovered in the Miami Valley. It will also include historical materials from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and select artifacts on loan from the Truman and Clinton Presidential Libraries.
The exhibit will be open throughout the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session, and will remain accessible to the public from May 27-29 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The courthouse’s first floor will be open for tours and equipped with public restrooms for visitors.