Eighth Regiment Armory, Chicago
This was the first armory for an African-American regiment, serving the 'Fighting 8th,' which fought in the Spanish-American War and served with distinction in World War I.
This was the first armory for an African-American regiment, serving the 'Fighting 8th,' which fought in the Spanish-American War and served with distinction in World War I. After years of disuse, this grandiose building has been restored and now houses the nation's first public college-prep military school, which is unfortunately not open for visitors.
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About Eighth Regiment Armory
3533 Giles Ave
Eighth Regiment Armory and Nearby Sights on Map
Sunset Cafe
Countless jazz legends played at this legendary jazz club, including: Bix Beiderbecke, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Earl Hines, Fletcher Henderson, Count Basie, and of course, Louis Armstrong
Ida B. Wells House
The home of Ida B Wells, prominent African-American civil rights activist and suffragette, founder of the Black Women's movement, and founding member of the NAACP, lived here from 1919–1929
Victory Monument (Chicago)
This monument was built in 1928 to honor the service of the African-American Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard in France during World War I
Supreme Life Building
Built to house the first African-American insurance company, which was one of the few Black Metropolis businesses to survive the Great Depression
Bronzeville Visitor Information Center
The Bronzeville Visitor Information Center seeks to provide visitors with orientation and offers tours, exhibits, and a small gift shop
Chicago Defender Building
Initially built in 1899 as a Jewish synagogue, this building housed the Chicago Defender (the nation's foremost African-American newspaper through World War I) from 1920-1960
South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC)
A community arts center open since 1940, which was for long the only place around where minority artists could exhibit there work
Chicago Bee Building
The home of the Chicago Bee Newspaper, which was founded by Anthony Overton to promote black businesses and issues
Overton Hygienic Building
Built by the wildly successful African-American entrepreneur Anthony Overton to house the headquarters of his nation-wide cosmetics franchise
Wabash Avenue YMCA
Bronzeville's YMCA, housed in a huge 1913 brown-pressed brick building, was a major social and cultural center for the neighborhood in its heyday, providing job training and housing for recent arrivals in addition to its more common functions