Page 18 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2020

Big House, Malabar Farm State Park in Lucas
Continued from page 15
Southwest Ohio
Paul Laurence Dunbar House and Museum in Dayton was the home of the poet and author who became one of the most influential Black writers in American history. The house looks much the same as it did when Dunbar lived here from 1904 until his death in 1906 at the age of 33.
Dunbar was one of the first Black writers to establish an international reputation. He wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy, “In Dahomey,” the first all-Black musical produced on Broadway in New York. The musical later toured in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He published a dozen books of poetry, four books of short stories and four novels.
Southeast Ohio
The National Road and Zane Grey Museum in Norwich honors the dentist-turned-author who wrote more than 80 western novels, including the hugely popular Riders of the Purple Sage. The museum includes a re-creation of Grey’s study and many of his manuscripts and other memorabilia.
Grey was an American author and dentist best known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre in literature and
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Burnett
the arts, where he idealized the American frontier. “Riders of the Purple Sage,” published in 1912, was his best-selling book.
That’s just five of the more than 70 sites on the trail. Another key part of the trail: a listing of a major annual literary event in each region.
While many places on the trail are currently
closed or open only on a limited basis because
of COVID-19, we also know it’s not going to be permanent. We also know that people who love to read are people who love to travel. Now, tourists planning a literary-themed outing, as well as Ohioans who want to discover literary treasures they never knew existed in their own backyard, will find it on
the Ohio Literary Trail.
The Ohio Literary Trail was made possible thanks to the Ohio History Connection, TourismOhio and Betty Weibel, Ohioana board member.
The Ohio Literary Trail can be accessed at www.ohioana.org/resources/the-ohio-literary-trail.
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David Weaver is the executive director of the Ohioana Library Association.