Paul Laurence Dunbar and other Dayton, OH Things to Do Tips

Paul Laurence Dunbar achieved national and international acclaim in a literary world that was almost exclusively reserved for whites. This gifted and prolific writer produced a body of work that included novels, plays, short stories, lyrics, and over 400 published poems. His work, which reflected much of the African American experience in America, contributed to a growing social consciousness and cultural identity for African Americans in the United States.

Dunbar purchased this house for his mother in 1904 and completed his last work here before his death in 1906, from tuberculosis. This gifted and prolific writer produced over 400 poems, novels, plays, short stories, and lyrics.
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Ohio Historical Society Site
National Park Service Site

Poetry

Life
A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,
A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,
A pint of joy to peck of trouble,
And never a laugh but the moans come double;
And that is life!

A crust and a corner that love makes precious,
With a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us;
And joy seems sweeter when cares come after,
And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter;
And that is life!

Selected Dunbar Poems
Poetry Archives

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Phone: (937) 225-7705
Address: 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street
Directions: The Dunbar House is located in Dayton (Montgomery County), at 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street. It is two blocks north of 3rd Street and four blocks east of U.S. Route 35.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/daav

Dayton Aviation Heritage Historical Park is located in west Dayton. The focus of the park are the Wright Brothers and their creation of powered flight. The park consist of seven units.

The Wright Cycle Company
The fourth bicycle shop operated by the Wrights is the only building remaining as testament to the bicycle business.

Hoover Block
Wilbur and Orville started their careers as printers and operated their second print shop, outside the home, here as Wright & Wright Job Printers. In this location, the Wrights edited and published newspapers for the West Side patrons, including the Dayton Tattler, written by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field
On this 84-acre patch of rough pasture outside Dayton, the Wright brothers learned to control and maneuver their powered machine and taught themselves to fly during 1904 and 1905. Visitors are urged to call 937-425-0008 for field closures.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center
Exhibits focus on the Wright brothers' development of the world's first practical airplane at Huffman Prairie in 1904 and 1905, their flying school starting in 1910.

Wright Memorial
Adjacent to the Interpretive Center, the Wright Memorial on Wright Brothers Hill is a 27-acre designed landscape honoring Dayton's native sons.

Dayton History at Carillon Park
Wright Brothers Aviation Center
The world's first practical airplane, the 1905 Wright Flyer III, built by the Wright brothers and flown at Huffman Prairie, is the centerpiece exhibit.

Paul Laurence Dunbar House
Dunbar purchased this house for his mother in 1904 and completed his last work here before his death in 1906. This gifted and prolific writer produced over 400 poems, novels, plays, short stories, and lyrics.
Paul Lawrence Dunbar Site

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Address: 6 South Williams Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402

At the Hoover Block on West Third. Located in the pavement on West Third Street at Williams Street are a series of memorial stones. Each one represents an important person in the history of flight. See how many you know. Can you find Wilbur Wright?

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Phone: (937) 225-7705
Address: 16 South Williams St, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Website: http://www.nps.gov/daav/index.htm