National Register of Historic Places

Dunbar Historic District

Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
Listed
June 29, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80003174

About this property

The Dunbar Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district on S Paul Laurence Dunbar Street in Dayton, Ohio. The district is famous for being the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar. On June 30, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places A larger area known as Wright-Dunbar (or Mound-Horace) is bounded roughly by US 35, Broadway Street, West Third Street and the Great Miami River. This district has also been known for housing many ethnic groups such as Hungarians, Romanians, and African Americans. After World War I the Wright-Dunbar area was known as the cultural and commercial center of Dayton's African American community. Many black-owned stores, shops, and theatres gained popularity in Dayton, such as the "Palace Theatre". Decades later, in the 1950s and 1960s, much of the area was damaged during riots, urban renewal, and the construction of Interstate 75. Later, through an effort by the city of Dayton and the county, many of the houses in the district were brought back to life again.

Location

Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
39.75690, -84.21864

Categories

BLACKARCHITECTURERELIGIONSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Dunbar Historic District

This page lists Dunbar Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Dunbar, Paul Laurence, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Unit III, Dayton Project
Industrial
0.2 mi
Summit Street Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
Industrial
0.3 mi
West Third Street Historic District
Modern
0.4 mi
Wright Cycle Company-Wright and Wright Printing Offices
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Piqua / Pickaway Aug 8 1780
1780Revolutionary War
8.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Dunbar Historic District listed on the National Register?

Dunbar Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Dunbar Historic District?

Dunbar Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Dunbar Historic District?

The period of significance for Dunbar Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Dunbar Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Dunbar Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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