Dayton, Ohio "Gem City" History
Gem City Dice was born from a love of Dayton, Ohio—a city with a legacy as rich as it is innovative. Inspired by the “Gem City’s” remarkable history of invention, creativity, and community, the vision behind Gem City Dice is simple: to create games that bring people together while honoring Dayton’s spirit of progress.
From aviation and automotive breakthroughs to music and technology, Dayton has shaped modern America in profound ways. That same drive for innovation now fuels Gem City Dice—transforming the energy of Dayton’s past into unforgettable, shared experiences today.
Our mission is to spark connection—whether with family, friends, or colleagues—through social, interactive gameplay that’s both fun and memorable. By blending the essence of Dayton’s heritage with a passion for community and creativity, Gem City Dice isn’t just a game—it’s a celebration of people, history, and the moments that truly matter.
Gem City Home Grown
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THE WRIGHT BROTHERS TAKE FLIGHT
Dayton’s most famous inventors undoubtedly are Wilbur and Orville Wright who revolutionized human transportation with the first powered airplane flights.
Drawn to Dayton for its skilled manufacturing capabilities, the Wright brothers operated a successful bicycle shop while pursuing their dream of flight. They assembled a talented team to help iteratively design and build pioneering airplanes. Their perseverance and creativity made manned flight possible, launching the aerial age.
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LAND OF FUNK
In Ohio, there was funk: insistently rhythmic, flamboyantly fun, and forward-looking in its use of audio effects. Artists like Ohio Players, Zapp, Lakeside, Faze-O, Sun, and Slave came out of the Dayton area and hit airwaves across the country in the 1970s and ’80s. “Dayton, Ohio is the most sampled city,” said Webb (founded of Funk Music Hall of Fame). Ohio Players alone have been sampled by the Notorious B.I.G., De La Soul, N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Salt-N-Pepa, OutKast, Snoop Dogg, and D’Angelo among many more.
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DAYTON'S SPIRIT OF INVENTION
Known as a “city of a thousand factories”, Dayton fostered an exceptional culture of innovation that enabled breakthroughs across diverse fields: National Cash Register – founded by mechanical engineer John Patterson in Dayton. Electric wheelchairs – Designed by Dayton native George Klein to aid people with disabilities. Stainless steel – Invented by Firth Sterling Steel workers trying to reduce steel corrosion. Pop-top cans – Invented by Ermal Fraze, founder of Dayton Reliable Can Company.