The Paul Laurence Dunbar House: A National Historic Site

The Paul Laurence Dunbar House is a National Historic Site of the United States Department of the Interior. For this reason, the house is recognized as a nationally significant piece of African-American history. The house itself was declared a National Historic Site in 1975 and was named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999. The National Trust continues to protect and restore the site. The Paul Laurence Dunbar National Historic Site is located in the Dunbar community, one of Dayton’s oldest neighborhoods. The site consists of the Dunbar House, an additional two-room building that is included in the National Historic Site, and a portion of the Dunbar Cemetery. The house and other Dunbar properties are owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Dunbar Family’s Legacy in Dayton and Beyond

The Dunbar family was one of Dayton’s first prominent African-American families to settle in the area. Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton on May 24, 1868. His parents were William Edward Dunbar, the former freed slave of a wealthy Washington, D.C. household, and Maria Cook. Like many freed slaves, William Dunbar and Maria Cook moved to Dayton because of the city’s strong economy and job opportunities. William Dunbar became a prominent businessman in Dayton’s thriving economy. Paul Dunbar attended Dayton Public Schools and graduated from Central High School in 1886. He also studied at the American School of Despatch and the National School of Business. Dunbar was an avid reader and writer. He began publishing poems while he was still a teenager. He went on to publish several books of poetry and prose during his lifetime. The most famous book he contributed to was titled "Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poems." Dunbar’s works often reflected his experiences as a black man living in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He also wrote about the difficulties that African-American men faced.

Exciting Historical Events at the Dunbar House

The Dunbar House has been a hub for many exciting historical events in Dayton history. The home has been visited by many famous people in history. These include William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington and many more. Taft was the President of the United States when he visited the Dunbar House in 1911. He was visiting Dayton to attend the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) annual convention. Taft was the first sitting president of the United States to attend an NAACP convention. He was also the first president to visit the Dunbar House. Taft’s visit was very significant for the Dunbar House and for Dayton. Taft was the nation’s first president to visit an African-American home. Taft had many positive things to say about the visit. He said that he had felt like a “guest” in the Dunbar House, and that it had been “so nice and so restful” to be there. Taft also praised Dunbar’s work and said that he had been lucky to be able to read some of his poetry. Overall, Taft’s visit was a historic event that left a positive mark on both the Dunbar House and Dayton.

Driving Directions From Scott Bauer Roofing Dayton Ohio to Paul Laurence Dunbar House

Visit the nations 1st Peace Museum in Dayton Ohio

Direction from Paul Laurence Dunbar House to Dayton International Peace Museum

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