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Welcome to a self guided walking tour of the Huffman Historic Area in Dayton, Ohio.
This walking tour will explore the architectural and historical features of buildings in this neighborhood. The Huffman Historic District was designated by the city of Dayton in 1981 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you have any questions about the neighborhood, please contact us by email at HistoricHuffman@gmail.com. This walking tour is intended to provide a leisurely walk through the Huffman Historic Area, allowing ample time to pause and appreciate the architecture, the streetscape, and the amenities of the area. We recommend that you allow 90 minutes to complete the tour, and we ask that you walk carefully, as streets and sidewalks can be uneven, and it’s important to observe the terrain while you appreciate the historical and architectural features of the area. |
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The Huffman Historic Area is a small neighborhood of restored and well-maintained homes built primarily from the 1860s to the 1890s, located between Third and Fifth Streets in East Dayton. The architecture includes excellent examples of buildings constructed for blue‑collar workers, artisans, merchants, and managers, all within the structure of an old‑fashioned neighborhood.
William P. Huffman was a prominent banker, real-estate developer, and businessman of his time; he lived from 1813-1888. In the late 1860s, Huffman founded the neighborhood known today as the Huffman Historic Area. Huffman built the community on 1,200 acres of rural land he owned just outside the city of Dayton.
Huffman’s vision was to build an economically diverse, tightly knit community of beautiful, well-crafted homes in which the socially prominent would live among blue-collar workers and artisans.
He made the area socially desirable by building elaborate mansions on Linden Avenue for his children as wedding presents. He also donated land for the Linden Avenue Baptist Church and for Huffman School, further contributing to the settlement of the neighborhood. By the end of the nineteenth century, Linden Avenue was referred to as Millionaire’s Row.
The district provides one of the strongest representative samplings within the city of the architecture of the late 19th century from ornate residences of the wealthy to simple workingman's cottages. The homes in the Huffman Historic Area are mostly vernacular with Victorian detailing. The high styles in evidence‑‑Queen Anne, Victorian Italianate, and Victorian Gothic‑‑are primarily concentrated on Linden Avenue.
The current residents of this delightful neighborhood reflect the same variety as the architecture. Huffman today enjoys the same advantages that made it an attractive neighborhood in William P. Huffman's day. Residents are friendly and willing to work together. The elegant architecture provides a beautiful setting that complements neighbors’ interactions, and the district is convenient to downtown Dayton and business districts.
As you follow the tour, be sure to notice the many interesting buildings not discussed in the text. Please look for features in the architecture such as rooflines, shingle patterns, chimney pots, wrought iron fences, details of porch and window decoration and ongoing renovations. You’ll be able to develop an educated and subtle eye and enhance your understanding of Dayton’s architectural treasures.
Please begin your tour near the corner of Linden Avenue and East Third Street. ⋆
↓ Click this box with the arrow to see the details of each property.
William P. Huffman was a prominent banker, real-estate developer, and businessman of his time; he lived from 1813-1888. In the late 1860s, Huffman founded the neighborhood known today as the Huffman Historic Area. Huffman built the community on 1,200 acres of rural land he owned just outside the city of Dayton.
Huffman’s vision was to build an economically diverse, tightly knit community of beautiful, well-crafted homes in which the socially prominent would live among blue-collar workers and artisans.
He made the area socially desirable by building elaborate mansions on Linden Avenue for his children as wedding presents. He also donated land for the Linden Avenue Baptist Church and for Huffman School, further contributing to the settlement of the neighborhood. By the end of the nineteenth century, Linden Avenue was referred to as Millionaire’s Row.
The district provides one of the strongest representative samplings within the city of the architecture of the late 19th century from ornate residences of the wealthy to simple workingman's cottages. The homes in the Huffman Historic Area are mostly vernacular with Victorian detailing. The high styles in evidence‑‑Queen Anne, Victorian Italianate, and Victorian Gothic‑‑are primarily concentrated on Linden Avenue.
The current residents of this delightful neighborhood reflect the same variety as the architecture. Huffman today enjoys the same advantages that made it an attractive neighborhood in William P. Huffman's day. Residents are friendly and willing to work together. The elegant architecture provides a beautiful setting that complements neighbors’ interactions, and the district is convenient to downtown Dayton and business districts.
As you follow the tour, be sure to notice the many interesting buildings not discussed in the text. Please look for features in the architecture such as rooflines, shingle patterns, chimney pots, wrought iron fences, details of porch and window decoration and ongoing renovations. You’ll be able to develop an educated and subtle eye and enhance your understanding of Dayton’s architectural treasures.
Please begin your tour near the corner of Linden Avenue and East Third Street. ⋆
↓ Click this box with the arrow to see the details of each property.