Hawthorne Hill, Orville Wright's Oakwood mansion, may open for public tours as early as May.

NCR Corp., which acquired the property shortly after Orville's death in 1948, donated it last year to a foundation managed by Orville's descendents. Since then, the Dayton Daily News reported last week, Wright family members have been working with the National Park Service on a plan to make the stately house an element of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. A bill to make it happen is being drafted for U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, according to the paper.

Airplane inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright planned the home together, but Wilbur died in 1912, before it was finished. Orville, his sister Katharine and their father took up residence there in 1914. Orville lived there until his death. The home features many unique and sometimes quirky innovations designed by Orville. It's been a National Historic Landmark since 1991.

But members of the public have seldom had a chance to see it. Neighbors have worried public tours would draw crowds and disturb the neighborhoods, but Wright family members and park service officials have been looking at ways to limit the impact, possibly by running small shuttles from nearby Carillon Historical Park, where the original Wright Flyer III, another National Park element, is on display.

Should Orville's private home be open to the public? Should it be turned over to the government? How would you manage tours to limit their impact? Post a comment.