New Book Details Origins and Evolution of Dayton’s Carillon Historical Park

How did a swath of Dayton swampland because a nationally lauded open-air museum? A new book titled A Living Landmark: The Story of Carillon Historical Park details the origins and evolution of Dayton History’s 65-acre destination.

Written by Carillon Park’s vice president of museum operations Alex Heckman and its curator Steve Lucht, the book documents the people, events and circumstances that made the museum what it is today.

“Alex has been here for 26 years. I've been here 18,” Lucht said in a Nov. 4, 2025, press release announcing the book. “We thought we knew the park inside and out. But as we began researching, we were amazed by the stories we unearthed.”

The fascinating bits of history found along the way included the fact that a prominent Dayton developer once purchased the land that would later become the park, platted it and sold lots for $29 each before nixing the project.

A Living Landmark: The Story of Carillon Historical Park was created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Carillon Park, which opened on June 30, 1950. A limited edition, the beautifully illustrated hardbound, 222-page coffee table book is for sale in the museum’s gift shop for $35.

When it opened in the summer of 1950, Carillon Historical Park was by the Daily Dayton News as a descendant of history destinations such as Colonial Williamsburg that John D. Rockefeller Jr. founded in 1926 and Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village in Michigan, which opened in 1933. Over the years, it has remained at the forefront of preserving the history of Dayton and Montgomery County.  

“In 75 years, only three people have helmed Carillon Park: Joseph Usellis, Mary Mathews and Brady Kress,” Lucht said in the press release announcing the book. “Together, they’ve safeguarded millions of artifacts; saved historic buildings; added exciting new attractions; expanded educational programs for the 50,000 schoolchildren who visit each year; and preserved Dayton’s history for future generations.”

For more information about Carillon Historical Park, visit daytonhistory.org.

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