DAYTON — The state has erected signs along Interstates 70 and 75 to alert drivers that they are passing through the National Aviation Heritage Area, and a new billboard near Dayton International Airport gives a similar message.

The National Aviation Heritage Alliance, a private nonprofit entity that oversees eight aviation heritage sites in the Dayton region, wants to remind residents as well as alert visitors about the attractions, said Tony Sculimbrene, the alliance’s executive director.

The sites honor the contributions of Wilbur and Orville Wright, aviation lighting pioneer Warren Grimes, astronaut Neil Armstrong and others. They include the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Grimes Flying Lab Foundation in Urbana, Wright B Flyer at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport and the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Wapakoneta.

The Ohio Department of Transportation spent $10,800 for four historical-area signs, two each along I-70 and I-75. The final one, along I-75 northbound at the Butler-Warren county line, is to be erected soon, department spokesman Joel Hunt said Thursday.

Businesses contributed support. Dayton Defense, a regional association of defense contractors, contributed nearly $1,000 to add National Park Service logos to the state highway signs.

The new billboard along the Dayton airport’s access road to I-70 reads: “Welcome to the Birthplace of Aviation — Home of the Wright Brothers.” CBS Outdoor Advertising agreed to place the image on the billboard for the cost of printing the wrap, Sculimbrene said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.