Come out on Sundays in February to celebrate Black History Month and enjoy for FREE the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago, the oldest continuously operating museum of African-American history in the country. The DuSable is named for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Haitian of African and French descent who founded Chicago by establishing a settlement in 1779. The DuSable Museum now houses more than 15,000 pieces, including paintings, sculpture, 
prints and historic memorabilia, intended to interpret the experience of African Americans. The DuSable tells its stories through permanent exhibits such as “Africa Speaks,” a survey in art and artifacts of the countries and cultures of Africa, and “A Slow Walk to Greatness,” the story of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, one of the first black mayors of a major U.S. city; and through temporary exhibits such as “Journey of Hope,” whose 90 quilts were made by fiber artists from across the country, including Penny Sisto of Floyds Knobs, Ind.
Growth is very much part of the plan for the DuSable in Chicago. A $45 million expansion targeted to open in 2015 will more than double its current space of 55,000 square feet, in which only a fraction of the permanent collection may be displayed. The project involves the restoration and re-engineering of the Roundhouse, a 61,000-square-foot limestone building adjacent to the DuSable that was designed in the late 1880s by noted architect Daniel H. Burnham.
Other exhibits include the historic significance of Barack Obama’s election, which is celebrated in “Journey of Hope in America,” a special collection of quilts on display through May 9 at the DuSable Museum of African-American History, the oldest continuously operating museum of African-American history in the country, the DuSable is named for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Haitian of African and French descent who founded Chicago by establishing a settlement in 1779. The DuSable Museum now houses more than 15,000 pieces, including paintings, sculpture, prints and historic memorabilia, intended to interpret the experience of African Americans.
Another temporary exhibit, “Spread the Word! The Evolution of Gospel,” now through May 20, explores gospel’s origins in Chicago with posters, photographs, handbills and recorded performances by Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, Sam Cooke, Thomas Dorsey and other gospel greats.
The museum’s permanent collection grew on Martin Luther King Day with the unveiling of “Deeply Rooted,” a massive bust of King donated by Tom and Madeleine Burrell that long graced the lobby of Burrell Communications, the Chicago ad agency founded by Tom Burrell.
DuSable Museum of African-American History
Where: 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central time) Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission: $10; or $7 students and seniors, $3 children 6-11, children under 5 free. Admission free to all on Sundays.
Information:
www.dusablemuseum.org or (773) 947-0600.
