Dunbar Theatre
Wichita, United States
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.
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The Dunbar Theatre in Wichita, Kansas, is a Moderne-style movie house that opened in 1941 and was named after American author Paul Laurence Dunbar. Located at 1007 N Cleveland Street in the historically African-American McAdams neighborhood, the theatre served as more than entertainment during the 1940s—it functioned as a vital community center where Black residents could gather and socialize in a welcoming space amid widespread segregation in the city. Situated at the intersection of 9th and Cleveland streets, it became a defining symbol of neighborhood identity and cultural life. The building is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places (since July 2, 2008) and the Kansas State Registry of Historic Places. Current plans call for its renovation and transformation into a cultural performing arts center with expanded facilities for arts promotion and education.
Movement
- Built
- Type
- movie theater
- Heritage
- listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places, National Register of Historic Places listed place
- Place
- Wichita, United States
This building on
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Location