paul laurence dunbar house

Very interesting. The tour guide knew so much. I learned a lot that I didn't know about Paul Lawrence Dunbar, since I'm not from Dayton.

If your from this area or not this landmark is excellent :-) I enjoy visiting this as a kid and adult.

I guess we just got lucky. The day that we stopped by the Paul Laurence Dunbar House we were met by Merry, the resident historian, and given a private guided tour of the house, the facilities and the grounds. It was spectacular. Merry went out of her way to personalize our experience and answer and expound on our of our questions and insights. She pointed out many little details throughout the house and even introduced us to the restorer from Ohio Historical Society who was working in the rear of the house. Going to this type of facility gives life to past famous people and brings their successes and frailties into better focus. Make the trip...just be sure to catch them on a day that they are open.

This is a really neat house to see. We had a appointment to see it, it is only open 2 days of the week and it was worth seeing. Paul Laurence Dunbar if you don't know him was a turn of the century African American poet who was the first African American to receive international acclaim. He bought this house for his mother, and only lived here 2 years knowing he would soon die of Tuberculosis. It is restored as it was while Paul and his mother were there. You start at a Visitor Center in a modern house with a 15 minute film about Dunbar and exhibits. Then inside a connected historic home is a small museum with many of Paul's belongings including his suit, bicycle he bought from his friends the Wright Brothers at the Wright Cycle Co. and more. Then inside the house. The house is very nice with many upper class Victorian features that he put in. His bed and office are really neat to see with many personal belongings. Our guide, Kyle, was great and super friendly. You definitely should see this house even if you have to make an appointment it is worth it.

We arrived on a Friday at 10:30 A.M., when the museum was supposed to be open according to the NPS website. It was closed. Disappointed. Be aware that the museum is in a questionable area of town, with a lot of shady characters hanging around. Museum is one building, and parking is a block away.

Nicely restored home where the poet lived. Can learn a lot about his life and works. The home is located in a residential area and is in the general area of the Wright Cycle Shop. It isnot within waking distance of downtown and not in the very best area of the city.

Very well preserved with an nice, informative annex. However, it is only open 2 partial days a week, or by reservation.

The house was closed when we were there, but it was an awesome feeling to stand on the porch of such a great poet! He must have been an affluent citizen as this house is HUGE!!!

Visit to the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Dayton, Ohio:As I was planning my first trip to Dayton, Ohio, to visit a friend, whom I had not seen in 12 years, I knew that I needed and wanted to visit the Dunbar Museum. As I was reading through the information on the museum, warm memories of the lines from, The Master Player, and We wear the Mask, came to mind…and after reading, Among items on display are Dunbar's bicycle built by the Wright brothers…, I was looking forward to viewing the bicycle…and, further, when I read that also in high school, Dunbar became friends with Orville and Wilbur Wright, who helped Dunbar build a bicycle, that further piqued my curiousity.First, we viewed a video on Mr Dunbar’s life and afterwards, our superb guide, Josh, took us around the Visitor Centre, before walking us through the Dunbar home. We were a very small group and we asked many questions.The guide, presented excellent and detailed information about Mr Dunbar, how he bought the house for his mother, as well as the plot next to the house, so that she would not feel ‘crowded’; he also told us how the Orville brothers arranged for Mr Dunbar’s body to be moved to a ‘better’ part of the cemetery so that he could have a dignified burial site and how the brothers also buried his late sister, Elizabeth (who died at the age of three), and later his mother, Matilda, in the same area. Josh shared so many cherished and personal details of Mr Dunbar that I do not wish to spoil it, if any of the readers plan to visit…trust me, it is worth a visit.I had not visited a museum in a very long time, but came away feeling warm and sad – the guide and visit were excellent; I was sad that Paul Dunbar died at such an early age, and I just loved one of his photographs, where he looks like someone’s little brother and that left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling; then…the bicycle, which I was so happy to see. The feelings that I needed and wanted to visit the Dunbar Home more than met my expectations…two thumbs up…to Josh and the Museum.We visited the Dunbar Museum on Friday, 28 September 2012.

This man accomplished much in his short life time. His success was well deserved.

We were disappointed. There was not a lot about Mr. Dunbar. We walked away empty handed.

You can see how Mr. Dunbar lived and where he wrote. The upstairs shows his desk and bedroom. It is an educational experience not to miss.

Many people who live in the neighorhood doesn't know the rich history there.

The Paul Laurence Dunbar Home is actually part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw03/index.shtml for the overview. This site specifies a phone number and tour hours. Do call ahead.In my view this is an excellent family visit as well as an opportunity for public school field trips.In Dayton, it is important to establish the successful life of a young African American, and his relationship to the Wright Brothers. Senior citizens who hold national park passes are admitted free.

The information provided in Paul Lawrence Dunbar's house tour was informative. I took my 15 year olf son andhe enjoyed hearing about the poetic works of an African American man.. which is not common. To see his living space, and hear about his life was somehting to remember. The only possible issues for travelers are the stairs- which are steep and narrow.... we had no problems but I could forsee this being an issue for some who are unaware.