6 ways to celebrate black history

Miami Valley has many ways to acknowledge role of the region.

Miami Valley residents might be surprised at how many ways they can celebrate the area’s role in black history.

Whether you have an entire day or only a few hours, here are some events and sites to explore in February for Black History Month:

1. The Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site

Dunbar, one of the first nationally known African-American writers, purchased the two-story brick house at 219 N. Summit St. in Dayton in 1904 for his mother, Matilda. He spent the last years of life in the house under her care.

In 1936, the home became the first state memorial to honor an African-American. Visitors can tour the house, much of it exactly the way it was left after the poet died.

■ Location: 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar St. in Dayton

■ Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2. Youngsholm, the home of Charles Young

Young was the third African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He went on to achieve the rank of colonel and serve as a military attache despite being born into slavery in 1864. Each Sunday in February, the Dayton Daily News will feature local stories about Black History Month.

■ Location: 1120 U.S. Route 42 East, Wilberforce

■ Hours: Tours are available by appointment only.

■ Call 937-352-6757 for visitor information.

3. Gammon House

Gammon House in Springfield is part of the network of secret routes that made up the underground railroad. The site was built in the 1850s and originally owned by a black abolitionist. It is one of only three existing “stops” in Ohio owned by a free person of color.

The home is known for secret passages and a basement tunnel.

■ Location: 620 Piqua Place, Springfield

■ Tours are by appointment.

4. Davey Moore statue

Davey Moore was a Springfield featherweight world champion boxer who died after a match at Dodger Stadium in 1963. The statue is located on Limestone Street south of downtown, not far from Gammon House.

5. National Afro American Museum & Cultural Center

The Wilberforce museum is the permanent home of one of the nation’s largest collections of Afro-American materials, with more than 9,000 artifacts and artwork, 350 manuscript collections, and thousands of photographs.

■ Location: 1350 Brush Row Rd., Wilberforce

■ Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■ Admission: Adults, $6; Seniors, $5; Youth, $3 and children 5 and younger are free

6. African-American art exhibit

Stroll through the Schuster Center for the 11th year of an art exhibit by local African-American artists. This year’s exhibit celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through the literary voice of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. EbonNia Gallery curator Willis “Bing” Davis, the Victoria Theatre Association and the Shango Center for African-American Art and Culture combine for this display.

■ Location: Schuster Center, 1 W. Second Street, Dayton

■ Hours: The exhibit opens Feb. 11 with an artist reception from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and runs through March 31 at the Schuster Center

■ Admission: Free