Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site

Website

www.nps.gov

Location

219 N Paul Laurence Dunbar St.
Dayton, OH 45402

Phone Number

(937) 224-7061

A tribute to an American poet.

Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet and author who was best known in his lifetime for his dialect work and his use of metaphor and rhetoric, often in a conversational style. In his short career he produced twelve books of poetry, four novels, four books of short stories, and wrote the lyrics to many popular songs. Dunbar became the first African American to support himself financially through his writing.

The house you will visit is the one Dunbar purchased for his mother Matilda in 1904. He lived there with her until his death in 1906. In rapidly failing health, Dunbar continued to write, and he completed his last works in the house. The Dunbar House appears today much as it did at the time of the poet’s death.

After Matilda Dunbar’s 1936 death, the state of Ohio acquired the property and opened it for public visitation as the first house museum commemorating an African American. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

Visit Website

Plan Your Trip Today!

Begin creating your itinerary

Start Now