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Chicago's South Side

Chicago’s culturally rich South Side is overflowing with history, art, cuisine, music, and beyond. These diverse neighborhoods have made their mark on local and national history, bringing us everything from Chicago-style jazz to luminaries like Ida. B Wells, Barack and Michelle Obama, Gwendolyn Brooks, Louis Armstrong, and more.

And the South Side is so much more than its history. It’s a place of constant evolution, hustle, and heart. Home to some of the city’s most innovative cultural institutions, cutting-edge performing arts groups, and unforgettable cuisine.

Here are just a few ways to experience Chicago’s vibrant South Side communities.

Discover South Side Neighborhoods

Chicago is a tapestry of neighborhoods, and the city’s South Side is no exception. These dynamic communities are overflowing with culture, art, history, architecture — and a whole lot of soul.

Bronzeville

Bronzeville is a living monument to African-American history and culture in Chicago. Historically known as the city’s “Black Metropolis,” this thriving community is filled with art galleries, colorful murals, historic landmarks, and buzzy restaurants and bars, including the city’s first Black-owned microbrewery.

Hyde Park

Rich in both cultural assets and green spaces, Hyde Park has endless options to explore. The bustling neighborhood is home to must-see sites, including the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, a historic lakefront park and Japanese Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and so much more.

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

Washington Park & Woodlawn

Washington Park and Woodlawn are best known for the sprawling Washington Park, a lush green space in the heart of the neighborhoods. This is where you’ll find the DuSable Black History Museum, where you can dive into the art, culture, and history of the African diaspora. You’ll also discover a blend of old and new, from boundary-breaking arts centers to classic Chicago restaurants.

South Shore

Nestled on a pristine stretch of lakefront, South Shore is home to one of the city’s largest beaches. Just steps from the water, the landmark South Shore Cultural Center is the neighborhood’s crown jewel with a full calendar of live music and performances. Other can’t-miss stops include the Stony Island Arts Bank, a once-crumbling bank that has been transformed into a stunning cultural haven.

Visit south side museums and culture

The South Side is a hub for some of the city’s most vital cultural institutions, from ground-breaking art galleries to the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

Washington Park

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Hyde Park

Gallery Guichard

Bronzeville

Stony Island Arts Bank

South Shore

A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum

Pullman

South Side Community Art Center

Bronzeville

Blanc Gallery

Bronzeville

Hyde Park Art Center

Hyde Park

eta Creative Arts Foundation

South Shore

Smart Museum of Art

Hyde Park

Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society

Bronzeville

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The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago

Hyde Park

Harold Washington Cultural Center

Bronzeville

ExpLORE Chicago’s Black history

Black history comes to life on Chicago’s South Side. Come discover museums, tours, and landmarks dedicated to Black history and heritage throughout the city’s South Side neighborhoods and beyond.

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Dive into neighborhood history

Bronzeville
Bronzeville has a long history as a hub for the African-American creative community. That living legacy continues today, intertwined with the neighborhood’s many art galleries, classic eateries, and authentic character.

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Pullman and Roseland

Home to Chicago’s only National Historical Park, these neighborhoods have played a key role in the labor rights movement. Today, community-led initiatives are shifting the narrative of these deeply historic neighborhoods.

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Signature south side events

Mark your calendar for these top South Side events, from music festivals to art fairs, happening all year round.

Candlelight House Walk

December

Pullman

Kwanzaa Market and Celebration

December

Woodlawn

Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tours

June – September

Bronzeville

57th Street Art Fair

June

Hyde Park

DuSable Museum of African American History

Juneteenth at DuSable Black History Museum

June

Washington Park

Pride Chicago 2019www.AdamAlexanderPhoto.com©Adam Alexander Photography 2019

Pride South Side

July

Washington Park

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African/Caribbean International Festival of Life

July

Washington Park

Bronzeville Summer Nights

July — September

Bronzeville

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Bud Billiken Parade

August

Bronzeville

Hyde Park Jazz Festival

September

Hyde Park

Historic Pullman House Tour

October

Pullman

61st Street Farmers Market

Year-round

Woodlawn

Spotlight on south side voices

Andre and Frances Guichard: Gallery Guichard

“My mom had regaled me with stories of Bronzeville’s heyday because she grew up here. It was just a no-brainer; we had to open the gallery in Bronzeville because we had to pay homage to our heritage, our culture, and the people who came before us.”

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Dominique Leach: Lexington Betty Smokehouse

“It means something to me to be living proof of what’s possible. I come from nothing. My mom is a single mother and she struggled. And I work hard to be that proof to other people. You can make something out of nothing.”

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Erick Williams: Virtue Restaurant & Bar

“Virtue is geared toward being an unapologetically Black space that would be open and inviting to anyone that walked in the door, and would represent the best and most cherished parts of our culture through food and the treatment of people.”

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Racquel Fields: 14 Parish Restaurant & Rhum Bar

“What I would really like to bring to the South Side is a true cocktail experience. What’s really cool about rum is that a lot of rum history is Black history. So we get to showcase our own roots by exposing our customers to the history behind rum.”

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South side dining

Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods offer a blend of classic Chicago establishments, international eats, and up-and-coming hot spots. Make sure to come hungry.