Downtown Dayton is in the midst of a renaissance, and it's easy to become passionate about the redevelopment of architectural gems like the Arcade or sites with major historical significance like the … [Read More...] about The Diner on St. Clair: a History and an Uncertain Future
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The Todd Art (Sigma) Theater and a Lost Brown Street Business District
The old firehouse currently home to Jimmy's Ladder 11 restaurant on Brown Street is a beautiful but isolated survivor of what was once a thriving … [Read More...]
The Diner on St. Clair: a History and an Uncertain Future
Downtown Dayton is in the midst of a renaissance, and it's easy to become passionate about the redevelopment of architectural gems like the Arcade or … [Read More...]
All About Dayton Formation Limestone: A Key Historic Building Material
One important material in Dayton's historic architecture is stone, which was used in early dwellings, key transportation infrastructure, and grand … [Read More...]
Dayton History and More
Dayton Vistas not only explores the history of Dayton, Ohio but also how the past shapes and relates to our present moment in terms of historic preservation, planning and urban redevelopment.
More Recent Posts
History of the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention?
The Kuhn's Building is one of Dayton's most beautiful 19th century structures downtown. It predated the Dayton Arcade by about two decades, but today it is connected to the complex and considered a part of it. The building is notable not just for its … [Read More...] about History of the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention?
K-12 Tejas Gallery Aims to Rehab Historic Carriage House
According to a Dayton Regional Priority Development and Advocacy Committee (PDAC) funding request, the K-12 Tejas Gallery is looking to purchase and rehab a building adjacent to its current home. A Dayton Business Journal article stated that the group … [Read More...] about K-12 Tejas Gallery Aims to Rehab Historic Carriage House
James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods
In my last article on the Bowers Building on West Third Street, I mentioned how James H McGee Boulevard was originally created as a widening of what had been Western Ave. As it turns out, that is an interesting story in its own right which I'll dig into … [Read More...] about James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods
History of the Bowers Building from Bank to Lounge
West Third Street is seeing a surge in new commercial investment in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood near downtown, but there hasn't been as much activity on the blocks west of Broadway. But now at West Third and James H. McGee Boulevard, a husband and wife … [Read More...] about History of the Bowers Building from Bank to Lounge
The Steamboat House in St. Anne’s Hill (Rare Photo)
Today's article came about rather serendipitously, as I was researching something unrelated only to come across a striking image of a home for sale in the Dayton Daily News on April 21, 1918. After only a quick glance it was obvious which house it was, as … [Read More...] about The Steamboat House in St. Anne’s Hill (Rare Photo)
The Longworth Steam Plant: Dayton’s Lost Medieval Castle
Our recent article on the soon to be demolished Ice House Building near Chaminade-Julienne High School reflected on the area's past identify as a thriving industrial hub. Perhaps the most important building in the area, and certainly the most noticeable, … [Read More...] about The Longworth Steam Plant: Dayton’s Lost Medieval Castle