Drive Ohio’s Homefront to Warfront Trail: Ohio museums team up to celebrate the end of World War II

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DAYTON — Ten of Ohio’s Museums featuring World War II history have joined forces to offer a new Homefront to Warfront Drive-it-Yourself Trail to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The tour kicks-off this summer and runs through the end of the year, but will highlight veteran recognition from Aug. 15 to Sept. 2, the 75th anniversaries of Victory in Japan Day and the formal signing of the Instrument of Surrender on board the USS Missouri.

The main corridor of this tour connects the homefront, represented by the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Dennison recognized as the best example left in the nation of a World War II Servicemen’s Canteen site and the National Veterans Memorial Museum in Columbus which is dedicated to honoring the service of all Veterans.

Other Ohio museums collaborating on this tour include the Ernest Warther Museum in Dover, the MAPS Air Museum in North Canton, the Old Main Street Museum in Newcomerstown, the Fletcher General Hospital and Chapel and National Museum of Cambridge Glass in Cambridge, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton and the Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana. In total, there are 500 miles of World War II history.

Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Executive Director, who sparked the creation of this history tour, shares, “The beauty of the Trail is that you can plot your own course for historic family fun and do it at your own pace – in the safety of your own car.” Zucal explains that while the Dennison Depot was being strongly encouraged to do an event to commemorate this important 75th Anniversary, the pandemic really challenged Ohio museums to find a safe way to celebrate. This drive-it-yourself Tour became the best solution to showcase these attractions.

Trail maps with specific information on days of operation, hours and admission for each attraction are available at each site or can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/yagjsjs8

Additional information is available on the Tourism Ohio’s Adventure Trails page at http://trails.ohio.org/map/. The map also encourages users to visit RemarkableOhio.org where travelers can decide to add World War II Markers to their travel plan.

As the pandemic guidelines each, groups interested in turning he trail into a bus tour can contact Julie Levengood the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 330.602.2420, [email protected]

Day and Hours of Operations are listed below, but Zucal encourages Trail visitors to double check openings due to COVID-19.

U.S. Air Force Photo

North American B-25B Mitchell and Doolittle Raiders diorama in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

https://www.galioninquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2020/07/web1_150327-F-IO108-001-1.jpgU.S. Air Force Photo

North American B-25B Mitchell and Doolittle Raiders diorama in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

Photo courtesy of Greg Morehead from Warbird Digest

Four B-25 Mitchell bombers fly over the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton in 2017 as part of the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. The aircraft pictured here are Panchito, Betty’s Dream, God and Country, and Barbie III.

https://www.galioninquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2020/07/web1_Doolittle-Raiders-1.jpgPhoto courtesy of Greg Morehead from Warbird Digest

Four B-25 Mitchell bombers fly over the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton in 2017 as part of the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. The aircraft pictured here are Panchito, Betty’s Dream, God and Country, and Barbie III.

https://www.galioninquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2020/07/web1_thumbnail_Drive-Ohio-H2W-Trail-Back.jpg

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