Dunbar, Paul Laurence, House
Why it's listed
This two-story red brick house at 219 North Summit Street in Dayton, Ohio, was the last home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. He bought it in 1903 for his mother, and they lived there for the rest of their lives; he died in 1906 and she in 1934. The house has nine rooms, a lean-to porch on wrought iron columns, green shutters and an old barn from the original property. Inside, the parlor holds Dunbar family furnishings and the family Bible. Upstairs, his study contains manuscripts, his desk and typewriter, and a bicycle given to him by the Wright Brothers. Dunbar, son of former slaves and educated in Dayton's public schools, became the first black poet to win national acclaim since Phillis Wheatley. His dialect verse addressed the experience of an oppressed people. After his mother's death, the State of Ohio bought the property and its contents and passed them to the Ohio Historical Society as a memorial and museum.
Significance in brief: Dunbar was the first black poet to receive national acclaim since Phillis Wheatley. His use of Negro dialect conveyed the joys and sorrows of an oppressed people during the period called "The Nadir". His work is credited with helping raise a new level of consciousness among black people.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000619, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 219 N. Summit St., Dayton |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000619 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-1936 |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 29, 1962 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Ohio Historical Society and operated as a state memorial and museum; condition listed as good, on its original site. Part of the first floor is used as administrative office space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Dunbar Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75767, -84.21904 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7151961
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.