Back to museums

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

Local HistoryArtHistoryClosed · Opens 10amFrom $14.5Garfield (CTA Green Line)

Founded in 1961 by artist and educator Margaret Taylor-Burroughs and others as the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, the DuSable is the oldest independent museum in the United States dedicated to African American history and culture. Since 1973 it has occupied a classical-revival former Chicago Park District administration building designed around 1915 by D.H. Burnham and Company, expanded in 1993 by the Harold Washington Wing. Its collection of roughly 13,000 artefacts, artworks, photographs and documents includes Ida B. Wells's desk, Paul Laurence Dunbar's violin, and major holdings of Black Arts Movement and WPA-era artists. The museum is named for Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Haitian-born trader of African descent regarded as Chicago's founder.

What's On

Now
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637, United States

Nearest station: Garfield (CTA Green Line), 55th-56th-57th St (Metra Electric), Cottage Grove (CTA Green Line)

Show on map

Hours

MonClosed
Tue10:00–17:00
WedToday10:00–17:00
Thu10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–17:00
Sat10:00–17:00
Sun10:00–17:00

Admission

From $14.5

Chicago residents $12.50; seniors 65+ and students $9-$11; children 6-11 $4-$5; under 6 free. Free admission every Wednesday, and year-round for military, first responders, Illinois K-12 students, University of Chicago students and members.

Nearby

Visitor Information

How much does The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center cost?
Standard adult admission to The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is $14.5. Chicago residents $12.50; seniors 65+ and students $9-$11; children 6-11 $4-$5; under 6 free. Free admission every Wednesday, and year-round for military, first responders, Illinois K-12 students, University of Chicago students and members.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center?
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00, last admission 16:30; closed Mondays. Free admission every Wednesday. Also closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4 July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (26-27 November 2026, 24-25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027).. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center?
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is located at 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637, United States, in the Washington Park / Hyde Park area of Chicago. The nearest stations are Garfield (CTA Green Line), 55th-56th-57th St (Metra Electric), Cottage Grove (CTA Green Line).
What can I see at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center?
America's oldest independent Black history museum, in a 1915 Burnham building on the edge of Washington Park. Current highlights include Freedom: Origin and Journey, The Harold Washington Story, Equiano.Stories.
Do I need to book The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

TonyTheTiger via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)