Northside District in Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

1922-1967

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 27, 2021

1. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Marker

Inscription.
The first school for black Kentuckians to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. One of only eight public high schools in the thirteen southern states to secure this standing in 1930.
Presented by the Dunbar Alumni Association

Erected 2018 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2538.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 38° 3.25′ N, 84° 29.286′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. It is in the Northside District. Marker is on North Upper Street south of West 6th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 545 North Upper Street, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Groundbreaking Doctor (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); William Morton House (about 700 feet away); Old Morrison / Transylvania Alumni (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lewis and Clark in Kentucky / George Shannon

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Transylvania (approx. 0.4 miles away); Col. Robert Patterson (1753-1827) / Patterson Cabin (approx. 0.4 miles away); Architects Shryock / Another Shryock (approx. 0.4 miles away); James Lane Allen (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Regarding Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. The remaining portion of the former school building is now used as a community center. A new Lexington high school also named after Dunbar opened in 1990.

Also see . . .
1. Dunbar High School (1923-1967). Lexington Public Library Digital Archives entry (Submitted on March 31, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The History of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. By Camille Radhakrishnan of the PLD Lamplighter, the newer school's newspaper. Posted April 27, 2019. (Submitted on March 31, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 27, 2021

2. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Marker

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) image. Click for full size.

Public domain, circa 1890

3. Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Dunbar was one of the first African-American writers to establish an international reputation. Besides poems, short stories and novels, he also wrote the lyrics for the first all-African-American musical produced on Broadway (In Dahomey, 1903).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 31, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.