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Cory Giguere / © TripSavvy
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DuSable Museum of African American History
Address 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637-1408, USADuSable Museum in Brief:
The DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago's South Side is home to a collection documenting the history and culture of African Americans in the United States.
Address:
740 E. 56th Pl., Chicago, IL
Phone:
773-947-0600
Getting to DuSable by Public Transportation
CTA Bus #10 Museum of Science and Industry Southbound to Museum of Science and Industry bus stop. Transfer to CTA Buss #55 Garfield Westbound to 55th & Cottage Grove. Walk one block south to DuSable.
Parking at DuSable
Limited parking is available in the DuSable parking lot.
DuSable Museum Hours
Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.
DuSable Museum Admission
Adults: $10 ($8 for Chicago residents)
Seniors and students: $7 ($5 for Chicago residents)
Children 6-11: $3 ($2 for Chicago residents)
Children Under 5: Free
All Military Duty Personnel, all branches, receives complimentary admission. Personnel must show ID or be in uniform. Active or non-active duty personnel/ POW’s (Illinois Residents); receives complimentary admission. Must show VA ID w/POW status on front.
DuSable Museum website
About the DuSable Museum of African American History
Located in Washington Park on Chicago's South Side, the DuSable Museum of African American History was the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to the history and culture of African Americans. Founded in 1961 by historian Margaret Burroughs, DuSable now houses more than 15,000 significant pieces, including art, print pieces and historical mementos.
In March 2016, the Smithsonian Museums granted DuSable affiliate status, which means that the Chicago institution now has access to Smithsonian’s artifacts and traveling exhibits. It is the second Chicago cultural institution to be granted this prestigious affiliation; the Adler Planetarium is the other.
Some of the permanent exhibits at the Dusable Museum include:
- A Slow Walk to Greatness: The Harold Washington Story (about Chicago's first Black mayor)
- Paintings/Drawings/Sculptures: Masterpieces from the DuSable Museum Collection
- Red, White, Blue & Black: A History of Blacks in the Armed Forces
- Africa Speaks
The DuSable Museum also hosts special temporary exhibits throughout the year, topics of which might cover the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panther Party, or the Emancipation Proclamation. The museum was named after Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a self-described "free mulatto man," who is widely recognized as the first permanent resident of Chicago and is formally considered the Founder of Chicago by the State of Illinois.
Additional African-American Cultural Institutions
Art Galleries/Museums
Bronzeville Children’s Museum
DuSable Museum of African-American History
Harold Washington Cultural Center
Little Black Pearl
South Side Community Art Center
Dance/Theater Companies
Afri Caribe Performance Music and Dance Ensemble
Black Ensemble Theater
Historical Landmarks
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Headquarters (first African-American sorority; founded in 1908)
A. Philip Randolph - Pullman Porter Museum
Bronzeville Tours (the neighborhood was home to such notables as Sammy Davis, Jr., Katherine Dunham and Nat King Cole)
Carter G. Woodson Library (named for the founder of "Black History Week")
Chess Records Building/Blues Heaven
Chicago Defender (one of the first African-American newspapers; founded in 1905)
Final Call Newspaper Headquarters (weekly newspaper of Nation of Islam)
Gravesite of Jack Johnson (final resting place of the first-ever Black Heavyweight Champion of the World)
Johnson Publishing (home of Ebony/Jet magazines)
Mahalia Jackson Residence (famed gospel singer's home is located at 8358 S. Indiana Ave.)
Michael Jordan Statue at United Center
Oak Woods Cemetery (The final resting place for a number of prominent African Americans, including Thomas A. Dorsey, Jesse Owens and Mayor Harold Washington)
President Barack Obama Residence
PUSH-Rainbow Coalition Headquarters (founded by Jesse Jackson. Sr.)
South Shore Cultural Center (live-music concerts, family-oriented festivals and more occur at this historic venue on the South Side)
WVON-AM (The radio station celebrated 50 years in 2013)