WRIGHT BROTHERS PINNACLES HISTORICAL HIKING TRAIL Moraine, Ohio

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Matt Miller, Holly Miller, Justin Eller, Jacque Kelly, Nick Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly, John Kelly

Date: September 18, 2024

The City of Moraine held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 21^st to open the new 1.1-mile Wright Brothers Pinnacles Historical Hiking Trail. The Pinnacles is a ridge and cliff overlooking the Miami River and is the site in the late 1890’s where the Wright Brothers would watch the flight of large birds on the cliff updrafts. Wilbur Wright obtained his wing warping or roll theory for his future heavier than air airplane wings by watching the birds here. Many photos taken by the Wright Brothers at the Pinnacles are also reproduced on signs. Sketches of trees and wildflowers drawn by Orville Wright and poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar while hiking the Pinnacles with their high school botany class adorn another sign. Other historical signs from the 1890’s are installed along the trail.

The hiking trail has two trailhead entrances. The South Trailhead is off of the Main Street Bike Trail about .4 miles from Wax Park. The North Trailhead is off of the Pinnacle Road Bike Trail, .4 miles from Deer Meadow Park. “People can enjoy the outdoor recreation benefits of this new hiking trail, stated Miller. “and be educated about the rich Wright Brothers history that took place here”.

Back in 2015, Dave Miller’s son Sgt. Matt Miller identified one of the photos taken by the Wright Brothers of a bridge on the trail. Further research matched other photos taken by the Wright Brothers to the Pinnacles cliff area. Realizing the important Wright history here, the City Manager granted Dave permission to begin developing the historical hiking trail.

Work on the development of the trail began in 2017 and was recently completed. The trail had to be widened considerably, about a dozen foot bridges were built, plus lots of clearing out of weeds, bush and other growth that impeded the path took place.

Along with Dave Miller, individuals, clubs, organizations, and volunteers who contributed in some way to either the maintenance and development of the trail, creating or installing the signage, doing the historical research, or providing the funding were recognized at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The entire Miller family and another ten people hiked the trail with Elizabeth and a few others doing a nature scavenger hunt along the way. Several of the historical signs are shown below.