Four Female Architects Who Shaped Chicago
Female architects have shaped Chicago for generations, yet their work is frequently overlooked and under-appreciated. In Chicago, the architects mentioned in history books tend to be “great men” like William Le Baron Jenney, Daniel Burnham, and Frank Lloyd Wright. That’s finally changing, with female architects like local legend Jeanne Gang capturing attention worldwide. Still, a […]
4 Badass Black Women in Chicago History
Black History Month has nearly ended, but we still want to take this chance to highlight some of the amazing black women of Chicago history. Two of these stories come from past presenters at our annual Badass Women of Chicago History storytelling event. These storytellers helped raise the profile of hidden figures in local Black history. This […]
Visit Timuel Black’s “Sacred Ground” During Black History Month
Timuel Black, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, is an icon in Chicago. He has been active in Black politics and activism, always pushing to make his city and country more free and just. Professor Black also crafted a monumental work of oral history, Bridges of Memory, which documents the Great Migration to Chicago. He […]
Five Chicago Soul Food Restaurants
In honor of Black History Month we want to highlight five delicious Chicago soul food restaurants. Soul food, of course, is the delectable Southern cooking tradition associated with the African-American community. Ever since the Great Migration, when millions of African-Americans fled the Jim Crow South, soul food has become a culinary highlight of Chicago’s food […]
The History of Chicago BBQ
Innumerable backyard grills will be fired up for summer holidays, like Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July. In honor of that, I wanted to dive into the greatest possible use of a grill: barbecue. The history of Chicago BBQ is tied directly to the city’s history of industry and immigration. Taking a look at […]
Who Knew There is a Pullman Porter Museum?
The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum could be one of Chicago’s most under-appreciated institutions. Frankly, I had no idea it even existed until just recently. While looking into a visit to the Pullman National Monument, I stumbled across the Pullman Porter Museum’s website. The museum, founded in 1995, memorializes the famous Pullman porters. and their key […]
Been to Chicago’s Bronzeville Neighborhood?
Off the beaten path but still close to downtown, Bronzeville is a great place to learn more about our city. The four Chicago Community Areas of Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Douglas, and Oakland comprise Bronzeville, which is historically known as the “Black Metropolis.” It served as the northern hub for the “Great Migration” of African Americans […]