DuSable Museum of African American History

By Prescott Carlson

Updated 05/16/17

DuSable-Museum.jpg
Photo courtesy of DuSable Museum

DuSable 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
Seniors and students: $7
Children Under 6: 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

DuSable Museum of African-American History

Little Black Pearl

Dance/Theater Companies

Black Ensemble Theater

Historical Landmarks

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Headquarters (first African-American sorority; founded in 1908)

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")

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)

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)