Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
1862-1931
| | Bronzeville Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 13, 2026
1. Ida B. Wells-Barnett Marker
Erected 1996.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Communications • Women. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 41° 50.19′ N, 87° 37.036′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). It is at the intersection of South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and 32nd Street, in the median on South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk of the median just south of 32nd 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: Ferdinand Lee Barnett (a few steps from this marker); John Lee Williamson (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. J.B. Martin (within shouting distance of this marker); Ernest Griffin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Theresa Needham (about 300 feet away); Robert W. Roloson Houses (about 300 feet away); Theodore K. Lawless (about 500 feet away); Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
this page online
Regarding Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Ida Bell Wells was born into slavery in Mississippi. She later moved to Memphis, where she became a prominent journalist and civil rights activists. In 1895 she moved to Chicago and married lawyer Ferdinand L. Barnett, who was also a journalist and activist. Among her numerous contributions to the city and the civil rights movement, Ida B. Wells-Barnett co-founded the NAACP and also worked with Jane Addams to prevent the segregation of public schools in Chicago. She died in 1934 and is buried next to her husband in Oak Woods Cemetery. Their former house, at 3624 S. MLK Drive, about four blocks south of this marker, is a Chicago Landmark. In 2020, Ida B. Wells was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize "for her outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching."
Ida B. Wells-Barnett is honored in several ways across Chicago. The Ida B. Wells homes were a public housing project in Bronzeville that stood from 1941 until 2002; the site of that complex is today home to the Light of Truth Ida B. Wells Monument, which was erected in 2021. Additionally,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 13, 2026
2. Ida B. Wells-Barnett Marker
Also see . . . Ida B. Wells-Barnett bio. From the National Women's History Museum.
Excerpt: "On March 15, 1931, Ida B. Wells-Barnett died from kidney disease. A respected leader in Chicagos Black community, she left behind a legacy that was not fully recognized until the publication of her autobiography in 1970. Although she did not live to witness the Civil Rights Movement, her anti-lynching activism and journalism laid the foundation for its radical spirit, reflecting the power of collective action in the Black community."(Submitted on May 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-012867), circa 1920
3. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1931)
Ida B. Wells was born in Mississippi and later moved to Memphis. She settled in Chicago in 1895.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
