Walk in Chicago # 12, history and culture in Bronzeville

Walk in Chicago # 12, history and culture in Bronzeville, is a chance to explore the African American culture, past and present, and encounter very friendly residents.

It mainly follows a large boulevard and thus gives you a unique perspective of the neighborhood, often off the beaten track, and this is what makes it an unusual self-guided walk compared to what you can find elsewhere.​

Count 90 minutes to do it except if you start to chat with the residents along your way.

🍧There is an excerpt of it below to give you an idea of what ​​it is.

💚Otherwise, it is available in full for a few $ on Payhip/ImagesVoyagesImpressions in a PDF file that you'll be able to download on your phone.

✨NB: 

• You can read much more about the general content and philosophy of these walks on the home page and see some comments there too.
• The excerpt is the beginning of the description (a bit truncated here), after the full map and the useful info about highlights, metros, buses, bikes, restrooms, and so on🚖.
• The letters correspond to points indicated on the map, so you always know where you are along the trail or where you're heading.

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A et B: Once you exit the metro, head east and when you arrive at ... Blvd, you will see a large stone building in front of you on the right, the ... Cultural Center, named after Chicago's first black mayor.

If it's open, step inside to see its black-and-white staircase that resembles a flying piano keyboard and to peruse contemporary artwork celebrating African American culture.

C: After that, continue towards the ... Gallery a little further on the left which exhibits contemporary art from the African diaspora and has, next to it, a small garden commemorating a famous 1930s-night club that was there, the Palm Tavern.

Then retrace your steps and turn right onto ... Blvd.

D: You will soon find on the right the ... gallery, which is also specialized in African American art, but you will need to make an appointment if you want to visit it outside opening hours, which are very limited.

Just before and if you are lucky enough to find someone inside, go visit the ... Society.
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This is undoubtedly where you will learn the most about the neighborhood with exhibitions on its past and that of some of its notable personalities and, above all, a warm welcome which, with others further afield, will make this walk memorable.

E: Continue on ... Blvd and at ... St, turn right to find the house at number 421 that Louis Armstrong purchased in 1925 with his wife Lil Hardin. It was there that they composed many jazz pieces that have become classics today.

This house cannot be visited but it is a place of pilgrimage, and you can at least read the plaque in front of it which tells you more about their former occupants.

F: Return to ... Blvd and at E ... St you will see a mural of Ida B. Wells, an early 20th century journalist and educator.

(The rest is on the pdf...)

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Ready to explore the city on your own?

Find this Walk in Chicago # 12, history and culture in Bronzeville, at Payhip.com/ImagesVoyagesImpressions along with some of the 12 others of the same series that you might like, all updated regularly, and you’ll soon be on your way to unique adventures!

​Nb: In case you haven't seen it already, the map showing you where all these walks are is on the Walk in Chicago page, along with links to some walks’ bundles offers and suggestions for your first visit.