Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Welcome to Bronzeville

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

1. Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - panel one

Inscription. In 1770, a Black man, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, began trading goods with Native Americans. DuSable High School honors him. By 1840, Blacks settled in Chicago's “Black Metropolis" now known as Bronzeville.

(panel two:)

The Harlem Globetrotters originated in Bronzeville using members of the Wendell Phillips High School basketball team. Robert S. Abbott founded the Chicago Defender newspaper. He also encouraged Bessie Coleman a resident to become the first Black female pilot. Jack L. Cooper, the first Black radio broadcaster in Chicago, aired in 1929. Lu Palmer journalist and news media personality, promoted black empowerment and social equality on his weekly show.

(panel three:)

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the first open heart surgery at Provident Hospital. State Street had become the "Black Wall Street". It was the financial hub of Bronzeville and home to Binga Bank, Douglass Bank, Overton Hygiene Cosmetic Co., Chicago Bee Newspaper, Your Taxi Co., Negro Musician Union, Gainer Grocery Store, and Parker House Sausage.

Erected 2009 by Bronzeville Merchant Association.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1770.

Location. 41° 49.855′ N, 87° 37.579′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). It is at the intersection of South State Street and East 35th Street, on the right when traveling north on South State Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Welcome to Bronzeville (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Sanford (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago Race Riot of 1919

Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - panel two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

2. Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - panel two

(within shouting distance of this marker); Hymes Taylor (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward Lee (within shouting distance of this marker); John Walter Humphrey (within shouting distance of this marker); William J. Otterson (within shouting distance of this marker); State Street (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . .
1. Bronzeville: The Black Metropolis (Build Bronzeville).

"In the first half of the 20th century, Bronzeville was one of the most important destinations of the “Great Migration”, becoming the home to hundreds of thousands of Blacks fleeing oppression in the South. Confronted with residential segregation and a culture of commercial exclusion, Blacks created the Black Metropolis, a "city-within-a-city" that provided all of the essentials for day-to-day living and put Black Chicago on the map. Commerce flourished, jobs were abundant, and innovations in music, literature, theater and beyond attracted people from across Chicago and defined America. They gave rise to a Black Arts Movement, created gospel and electrified blues, built
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

3. Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - panel three
hundreds of businesses, and created a political base that eventually would give birth to the nation’s first Black president."

(Submitted on December 3, 2021.)

2. Bronzeville, the Black Metropolis (YouTube, 2 min.). "Excerpts from footage for the documentary TALKING BLACK in AMERICA (www.talkingblackinamerica.org)" (Submitted on December 3, 2021.)

3. Bronzeville Memorialized (We the People Residents' Journal). Short article describing the Obelisk project, of which this marker is part of. (Submitted on December 3, 2021.)

Welcome to Bronzeville Obelisk and Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

4. Welcome to Bronzeville Obelisk and Marker - wide view

Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - wider view, looking southwest from the el image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

5. Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - wider view, looking southwest from the el

The Bronzeville obelisk is visible here in the center of the picture, occupying a triangular plot at the intersection of 35th and South State Streets.

Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - cartouche image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021

6. Welcome to Bronzeville Marker - cartouche

On the face of obelisk is a cartouche with "Bronzeville" spelled out in the Egpytian hieroglyph alphabet. (𓃀 = B, 𓂋 = R, 𓅱 = O, etc.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 675 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 3, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.