DuSable Museum of African American History
Specialty: African-American History Museum
Features: Nation's first and oldest Museum of African-American History
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sundays - 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Free Sundays)
Admission: Adults - $10.00
Students & Seniors - $7.00
Children, ages 6 to 11 - $2.00, Children under 5 Free
Parking: Free
ADA: Wheelchair accessible
*The DuSable Museum of African History is the oldest museum of its type in the county and the only major independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and achievements of African-Americans.
General Info
In 1968, the Museum was renamed after Jean Baptist Pointe DuSable, a Haitian fur trader and the first permanent settler of Chicago. The Museum moved in 1971, after the Chicago Park District granted their request to be housed in a former Park Administration Building. The Museum added an additional wing in 1993, which increased gallery space and added a 450-seat theater. The Gallery was named Harold Washington Gallery, in memory of Chicago's beloved late Mayor. The DuSable Museum is the only major independent institution in Chicago whose goal is to preserve the historical experience and advance the achievements of African-Americans. Its relevance is not only to Chicago, but to the history of our Nation as well.
The Museum's permanent collection includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, wood and ivory carvings, slave documents, Civil Rights memorabilia, photographs, statues and masks from Africa. Pursuing its mission of preserving the culture and history of the African-American experience, the Museum sponsors an annual Arts and Crafts Festival held on the second weekend in July. It is a showcase for local artists. The festival features traditional, ethnic and experimental fine arts that relate to African-American themes, identity, history and culture.
The Perfect Place For: Those wanting to learn about African-American History