Black History Month

Home of famous African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar lived in this house from 1904 until his death in 1906. In 1936, the Ohio General Assembly dedicated the house as a memorial to Dunbar. It was the first state memorial in Ohio to honor African American history. In 2003, it was restored to how it appeared when Dunbar lived there with his mother, Matilda. The house features many of Dunbar’s literary works and other personal artifacts.

Nearby routes: 1, 2 and 4

This neighborhood is where Wilbur and Orville Wright designed the world’s first powered airplane, and African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar penned his world-renowned poetry, which was printed by the Wright brothers in their newspaper. It is located in west Dayton and is on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, National Aviation Heritage Alliance and the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame.

Nearby routes: 1, 2 and 4

The congregation was founded in 1833 and is recognized as the first Black congregation and the first AME church in Dayton. The congregation originally met in a small frame building in east Dayton. Throughout the years, the church moved to various locations including Eaker Street where Paul Laurence Dunbar was a member. The congregation moved to its current location on Hoover Avenue in 1963.

Nearby routes: 4

Dan Miller built the farmhouse in the early 1800s. He was a member of the Brethren religion which was opposed to slavery. He allowed escaped slaves to hide in his house while they traveled north to Canada. It is located on Dandridge Avenue in west Dayton. It is one of the last remaining Underground Railroad structures left in Dayton. This house is now privately owned.

Nearby routes: West Community Connector

Established in September 1867, it was originally known as the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, commonly known as Dayton Soldiers home. It is one of the three oldest health care facilities within the Department of Veteran Affairs. These facilities were the first of their kind to house both white and black, Confederate and Union Civil War soldiers. It was created by a bill signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln shortly before his assassination. Joshua Dunbar, the father of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, lived here after moving up from Kentucky.

Nearby routes: 22

During the era of segregation, a group of Black men who fought in WWI decided to create their own YMCA. It’s located at 907 W. Fifth St. It was considered part of Dayton’s Black Wall Street at the time with numerous Black-owned businesses in the area. It served as dormitories for Black men in the 30s, 40s and 50s until they were able to save enough money to get an apartment and bring their families up from the south. It is currently the site of The Opportunity Center.

Nearby routes: 8

Founded in 2005, it is a Dayton Public School located on Shoup Mill Road named after Charity Adams Earley. She was the first African American woman to become an officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (later WACs) and was the commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was made up of African American women serving overseas during World War II. She was the highest-ranking African American woman in the Army by the completion of the war.

Nearby routes: 16 and North Community Connector