The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

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

Apr

May

Equiano.Stories

A film project with Stelo Stories Studio reimagining the childhood of Olaudah Equiano as a first-person Instagram Stories account, from his Igboland village through the Middle Passage.

Now showingFrom 16 Feb 2022$14.50

Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance

Over 100 works trace the Black artists, writers and performers - Tanner, Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin - who found freedom and invention in Paris from the 1890s onward.

Now showingFrom 22 Nov 2025$14.50

Permanent Collections

Freedom: Origin and Journey

The museum's core survey of the African American experience, running from the height of the Transatlantic slave trade through Reconstruction, the Great Migration, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.

Permanent collection$14.50

The Harold Washington Story

Housed in the wing that bears his name, this display traces Harold Washington's path from the Illinois legislature and US Congress to becoming Chicago's first elected African American mayor in 1983.

Permanent collection$14.50

Clearing A Path For Democracy: Citizen Soldiers of the Illinois Fighting 8th

The story of the 8th Infantry Illinois National Guard, the only US regiment deployed abroad with a full complement of African American officers, which fought as the 370th Infantry on the Western Front.

Permanent collection$14.50

Fighting Racism in the Trenches: A Colored Woman in World War I

Artefacts and archival material follow Kathryn Magnolia Johnson, one of a handful of African American women sent by the YMCA to support Black troops of the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

Permanent collection$14.50

Nearby

i

The Renaissance Society

ArtFree7 min walk

i

Smart Museum of Art

DesignFree7 min walk

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 $14.50. 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) and 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 and Clearing A Path For Democracy: Citizen Soldiers of the Illinois Fighting 8th.

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.