Bronzeville is a neighbor hood located in the Douglas and Grand Boulevard community areas on the South side of the City of Chicago around our University, the Illinois Institute of Technology. Bronzeville was known as the "Black Metropolis" in the early 20th century due to to the significance of African-American urban history. Bronzeville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Chicago and although it has not developed much like the other neighbor hoods but it is reemerging and bound to bloom very soon.
Since the neighborhood is so large it is not possible to visit all the places in one day but we tried to visit as many places as possible. At first we went to see the Victory Monument located on 35th and King Drive. The Victory Monument designed by sculptor Leonard Crunelle was built to honor the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, an African-American unit that served France during World War I. The monument features three bronze relief panels depicting life sized figures: A classically draped African-American female representing motherhood, another classically draped female figure wearing a helmet and on her left hand the names of the battles the African-American soldiers fought, the other one is a bare chested African-American soldier symbolizing the soldiers who fought for the country.
After that we visited The Great Migration Statue located on 27th and King Drive. Alison Saar's bronze figured statue is known as the Great Migration Statue. The statue symbolizes the thousands of African Americans who migrated to Chicago in the early 20th century in the hope of freedom and opportunity. The traveler's hand is raised as to salute the new home and the suitcase on the other hand symbolizes the journey. Also the statue is facing the north which is the destination for the people.
We went to the Harold Washington Cultural Center after that. It is located in 4701 S. King Drive. Harold Washington was the 51st mayor and the first African-American mayor of Chicago. A fun fact is his birthday and my birthday is on the same day. April 15th. The Harold Washington Cultural Center's mission is to preserve and protect the rich, diverse culture, and history of African Americans. The Cultural Center hosts events like plays and skits, different fundraising events, parties and bands etc.
We came across the Chicago Defender Building located at 4445 S. King on our way back from Harold Washington Cultural Center. The Chicago Defender is a Chicago-based weekly newspaper founded in 1905 by an African American.
Also at 3624 S. King Drive is the Ida B. Wells-Barnett House. Ida B. Wells is known for being a pioneer in the civil rights movement. She was an African-American journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist and sociologist. She also documented the lynching in the United States which was a racial abuse against the blacks.
The Bronzville Walk of Fame located at King Drive between 25th and 35th Streets is a very significant part of Bronzeville history. There are about 91 bronze plaques on the sidewalks, medians and crosswalks which commemorate more than 100 residents who made contribution to the African American community in Bronzeville. There are individuals such as jazz musician like Louis Armstrong, poet Gwendolyn Brooks,the first African American astronaut Robert H. Lawrence Jr.
Meyer's Hardware/Sunset Cafe located at 315 E. 35th St. is another great place to visit. Although from outside it's just a hardware store the rich history makes it so much more. The venue opened in the 1920's as the Sunset Cafe. It was a "black and tan" night club, one of the few integrated clubs. It once hosted performances by jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong. When the hardware store was moved into the space in 1960 the incredible jazz legacy was uncovered.
The Supreme Life Building on 3501 S. King Drive is a nice place to visit. The building served as the headquarters of the Supreme Life Insurance Company which was the first African-American owned insurance company in the northern United States. The company was built in the 1921 and it became a symbol of predominantly black Bronzeville neighborhood's economic success. The building is one of the nine buildings designated as part of the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District.
The other important and famous places in Bronzeville are: Eighth Regiment Armory, (3353 S. Giles) is on the National Register of Historic Places because it was the first armory in United States built for an African-American military regiment known as Fighting 8th. The Sutherland Hotel, (4659 S. Drexel) is famous as some of the famous jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Nancy Wilson stayed and performed in this hotel. Welcome Inn Manor (4563 S. Michigan) was built in 1893 is a famous bed and breakfast. It represents the early architectural style of Chicago.
Besides these there are a lot of Churches in Bronzeville. Like the Pilgrim Baptist Church (3301 S. Indiana) which was designed as a synagogue by Chicago architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler. The first congregation there was of Reform Judaism. Bright Star Church (735 E, 44th St.) is famous for it's community service activism. The Quinn Chapel Church, First Church of Deliverance, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church etc. are the other famous churches of the area. The Wabash YMCA located in 3763 S. Wabash is an important organization for the African-American community. It served as an important social center within the Black Metropolis area and provided housing, job training for the African immigrants.
The Mecca Flats were an apartment housing all African American residents. Mecca Flat Blues was inspired from this monumental apartment but now in place of that apartment stands the Crown Hall building of our University, Illinois Institute of Technology.
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