2. How to get there
-Take the red line toward 95th to Roosevelt
-Transfer to Green Line toward Cottage Grove
-Get off at Indiana
-Walk East on 40th Street toward South Prairie Ave
-Turn left onto Martin Luther King Dr.
3. Demographic
-About 12,000 people per square mile
-The population of Bronzeville is mostly
African American, and a small portion is other
races including Hispanic and Caucasian
4. History
-Bronzeville: “Chicago’s Black Metropolis”
-Historical Landmarks such as: Ida B. Wells’ home and Stephen A. Douglas’ tomb.
-Population grew dramatically during the Great Migration during 1910 and 1920.
-From 1920s to 1950s Bronzeville was the center for African-American culture and
business and was well known for nightclubs, dance halls and arts.
-After World War II, upper and middle classes left the area, businesses started to
decline, and the poverty increased.
-Andrew “Rube” Foster (founder of the Negro National Baseball League), Bessie
Coleman (first African-American women pilot), and Louis Armstrong (legandary trumpet
player and band leader who performed at Bronzeville night clubs) were all associated
with the development of Bronzeville.
5. Restaurants and Stores
-Mostly consists of landmarks, parks, & homes.
-Some of the bigger hit restaurants are Chicago’s Home of Chicken and
Waffles, Ms. Biscuit, and Pearl’s Place.
-Few stores are specific to Bronzeville such as Bronzeville Boutique.
6. Architecture
-Most of the homes in Bronzeville are modeled after
Victorian Age Architecture.
-The buildings and even churches all have an old historic
style.
7. Attractions
-A. Philip Randolph Museum Gallery:
10406 S. Maryland Ave. Chicago, IL 60628
Their mission is to honor A. Philip Randolph, a leader of the African-American Civil
Rights Movement, and to remember the contributions made by other African-
Americans to America's labor movement; with a significant focus on the African
American Railroad Employee.
-Taylor Park:
39 W. 47th St. Chicago, Illinois 60609
Located at the former Robert Taylor Homes, once the nation's largest public housing
project.
8. Attractions
Bronzeville bus tours are offered:
-Black Metropolis, Pullman Porter, Great Migration and Blues Trail Tour:
All day tour that provides history of Chicago’s African-American cultural
community
-The Tour of Duty:
Guides you through the connections of Bronzeville, President Abraham
Lincoln and the Civil War
Civil War to Civil Rights Tour:
Explores the timeline of Bronzeville’s transformation
9. Attractions: Parks
-Bronzeville is made up of a lot of green space and trees
and has several parks including Washington Park and Ellis
Park.
10. Historical Landmarks
-Bronzeville itself is The Black Metropolis-one of
the most significant landmarks in African-
American history.
-Tomb of Stephen A. Douglas
-Home of Ida B. Wells
-The Victory Monument
-Regal Theatre (demolished in 1973)
12. Stephen A. Douglas
-Famous politician from Illinois.
-Democratic Nominee in the 1860 election against
Abraham Lincoln.
-Nicknamed the "Little Giant" because he was
short in physical stature, but a forceful and
dominant figure in politics.
13. Ida B. Wells
-Ida was an African-American journalist, socialist,
newspaper editor, and leader in
the civil rights movement.
-She was active in women’s
rights and the women’s
suffrage movement.
14. Personal Reflections
-Bronzeville is a historically rich community.
-We learned more about African-American
heritage.
-After visiting Bronzeville, we are more aware
of what exists on the south side of Chicago.
15. For more information...
Check out Bronzeville’s
Welcome Center located on
411 E. 35th Street for more
information and history about
the neighborhood!
16. Works Cited
"The Black Metropolis Pullman Porter Great Migration Blues Trail." Bronzeville Visitor Information Center. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.bviconline.info/>.
"Bronzeville Area Residents' and Commerce Council." Bronzeville Area Residents' and Commerce Council. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.thebarcc.org/history.php>.
"Bronzeville Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60653 Detailed Profile."Bronzeville Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60653
Subdivision Profile. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
"Chicago Park District." Taylor Park. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Taylor-Park/>.
Foner, Eric. "Stephen A. Douglas." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 1991. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
Herman, Jessica. "The Guide to Bronzeville: 14 Great Things to Do." Chicago Magazine Real Estate Neighborhoods.
Chicago Magazine, 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
"Ida B. Wells." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_B._Wells>.
