DAYTON, Ohio — On April 8, several major cities in Ohio will experience totality during a solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the Buckeye State, and costs are rising.

In Dayton, hotel rates rose by more than $100 on the night of April 8, and flight prices continue to rise. When it comes to viewing a solar eclipse, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Many people watch from large free watch parties, others from their own backyards, and some watch as a way to give back to their favorite charities or communities.

More than just a party, Dayton’s Sunwatch Indian Village also hosts a major fundraiser to help preserve ancient history.

“Sunwatch is an 800-year-old Native American site located along the banks of the Great Miami River,” Taylor Hoffman of the Dayton Natural History Society said while leading the tour.

Hoffman’s first job was as a site manager at Sunwatch.

“So what we’ve done is we’ve reconstructed parts of the village based on the exact footprints where the finds were found, the archaeological footprints,” Hoffman said as he continued his tour. Ta.

Over the years, Solstice House was rebuilt along with its fence.

Markers on the ground are where historic house markings once were.

“Sunwatch is laid out really cool in a very intentional way. It’s arranged in concentric circles,” Hoffman said.

From its ceremonial buildings to its burial ring, Sunwatch has been a popular learning spot and staple of Dayton-area field trips since the late ’80s.

Things will be a little different on April 8th.

“We’re planning a very small, high-end event for up to 150 people. What we’re trying to do is observe the sun, learn about Sunwatch, and have astronomers talk to us. “I’m telling you, we’re very excited about what the eclipse is going to look like at 3:10 p.m.,” Hoffman said.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., people can stroll the grounds and celebrate the season.

“We run educational tours where you can go inside the house and our staff are always on hand to talk to you about the various destinations on the tour. There may also be educational activities in the excavation pit,” Hoffman said.

This event will be the site’s largest fundraiser to date.

“The ticket price is $500 apiece, which seems like a lot, but this is a fundraiser for us, going directly to Sunwatch and coming right back here to help us maintain these buildings, build new ones. “It’s also important to raise awareness of this site,” Hoffman said.

The last total solar eclipse in Ohio was in 1806, and the next one won’t be until 2099, so people are ready to celebrate in style.

The menu includes bison burgers, bison chili, mimosas with Sunny D, moon pies, and sun chips.

While this event would certainly change Sunwatch and its centuries-old history, it was a full-circle day for Hoffman.

“Sunwatch has always been in my heart since I was little. Growing up here, we always come on field trips. So I’ve always been interested in history and actually my background is with history. “Being an anthropologist, I think it’s really cool to be able to see a once-in-a-lifetime event like Sunwatch in a once-in-a-lifetime location,” Hoffman said.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you can spend those precious few minutes however you like.