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Chicago African American History Tour: DuSable Museum, Historic Homes
4.5
114 Ratings
Chicago
Explore the rich African American heritage of Chicago on this immersive tour. Visit iconic landmarks, museums, and homes of influential figures who have shaped the city’s history. Discover the impact of African Americans on Chicago’s culture, politics, and society. Join us now!
Explore the rich African American heritage of Chicago on this immersive tour. Visit iconic landmarks, museums, and homes of influential figures who have shaped the city’s history. Discover the impact of African Americans on Chicago’s culture, politics, and society. Join us now!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Bronzeville - A tour of predominantly African American Chicago. We visit historic and cultural rich Bronzeville. Home of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, the birthplace of gospel music. As we tour through Bronzeville we give a historical prospect of the area and why it’s called Bronzeville. The color bronze, does that give you a hint? We stop by Elijah…
- Bronzeville - A tour of predominantly African American Chicago. We visit historic and cultural rich Bronzeville. Home of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, the birthplace of gospel music. As we tour through Bronzeville we give a historical prospect of the area and why it’s called Bronzeville. The color bronze, does that give you a hint? We stop by Elijah Muhammad house in Hyde Park, the man who founded America’s black Muslim movement in America. We will also see the home of the sometimes controversial Louis Farrakhan. We then travel to Muhammad Ali’s former residence and the Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Operation Push national headquarters.
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Optional airport pickup at 10% discount compared to Uber
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Optional airport pickup at 10% discount compared to Uber
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Join us on this journey as we explore the DuSable Museum of African American History, dedicating approximately 45 minutes at this museum. We will be visiting the homes of prominent figures such as Louis Farrakhan, the previous residences of Elijah Muhammad and Muhammad Ali. Along our path, we will observe the home of the 44th President of the US, Barack…
Join us on this journey as we explore the DuSable Museum of African American History, dedicating approximately 45 minutes at this museum. We will be visiting the homes of prominent figures such as Louis Farrakhan, the previous residences of Elijah Muhammad and Muhammad Ali. Along our path, we will observe the home of the 44th President of the US, Barack Obama and the home of Reverend Jessie Jackson. Gain knowledge on how African Americans have incredibly influenced Chicago and understand the significance of the railways, acted as pivotal conduits during the Great Migration for African Americans seeking a new life in Chicago. We look forward to your company on this cultural journey!
- FOR GROUPS OF 12 OR MORE TRAVELERS, 7 DAYS NOTICE IS REQUIRED.
Location
The Chicago Theatre
North State Street
Travelers will meet tour guide in front of the Chicago Theatre located at 175 N State Chicago.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(114 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Dranita_r
Aug 9, 2025
Very informative - Steve was very thorough. His enthusiasm and lived experiences in Chicago added to the tour experience.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_m
Aug 2, 2025
Steve: The Man with a Plan - When my dad and I booked this tour, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. We just knew we wanted to get a closer look at the city and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. What we didn’t expect was to be paired with Steve—who turned out to be the highlight of our entire trip.
Steve is, without a doubt, one of the best tour guides you could hope for. From the moment we met him, he was warm, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took us all over Chicago, not just to the big tourist spots, but also to the hidden gems you’d never find on a standard bus tour. At every stop, he shared fascinating stories, rich history, and personal insights that made the city come alive in a whole new way.
What really set Steve apart, though, was his personality. He’s funny, kind, and genuinely passionate about what he does. He made the experience feel personal, thoughtful, and totally unique. You could tell he truly cared about making our time in Chicago memorable—and he did exactly that, all while remaining incredibly humble.
At one point, I mentioned to Steve that I was thinking about moving to Chicago, and without missing a beat, he started pointing out neighborhoods he thought would be a great fit for me. It wasn’t just a passing comment to him—he really took the time to listen and offer thoughtful suggestions.
This wasn’t just a tour. It was an experience—one that gave me a deeper appreciation for the city and a lot of excitement for what may come next. If you get the chance to tour with Steve, take it. You won’t regret it.
Review provided by Viator
Candis_a
Jul 31, 2025
A1 Tour Guide. Covers all aspects of Chicago. - Great Tour and History Lesson. Mr. Johnson was very knowledgeable. He went far beyond what was expected. You get a lot for your money on this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_h
Jul 21, 2025
Enriching - This was a long, very detailed, enjoyable tour experience. So expect to spend the full four hours or more. It was worth the time. Our tour guide was full of historical facts and enjoyable. The only disappointment was that the van’s microphone did not work which made it difficult for some to hear. Overall all it was an enriching experience.
Review provided by Viator
Le_s
Jul 11, 2025
Very good tour. Steve is... - Very good tour. Steve is a good tour guide. Chicago has a great African American history. Tour is recommended for all ages.
Review provided by Viator
Daydream36276231577
Jul 7, 2025
You’ll love the tour. - We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Steve. He is very knowledgeable and has a fun delivery. The guide will also stop to give you an opportunity to take a nice photo at each location.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tonya_b
Jul 7, 2025
Take the tour - You will receive a wealth of information from the guide, Steve. He will also be your personal photographer. The tour was also fun.
Review provided by Viator
Faraway718219
Jul 19, 2025
- Steve was an excellent tour guide. He presented loads of information about Chicago's Southside. He offered to take photos with our camera, which allowed my spouse and I to be photographed at each site we toured. The time spent at each tour stop was ample. I liked that he held off on answering some questions, until we reached the site. His presentation was very orderly and he answered previously asked questions as we reached the corresponding tour store. My spouse and I felt safe throughout the entire tour, as Chicago is often associated with nothing more than crime.
We definitely recommend this tour.
Dee Jones
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deborsh_t
Jun 29, 2025
The Chicago African-American northside and southside downtown tour! - This is an excellent tour about Chicago’s African-American community. Steve was super factual and provided the opportunity for photo taking. The tour was very good. Perhaps a little long but you couldn’t beat it. We were able to see the Obama‘s home the church where Tommy Dorsey started and the Bronzeville so plaque. And all the super information the Ida B. Wells neighborhood and Lewis Farrakhan black Muslim house.Using a van instead of a bus was excellent for being able to navigate and get around quickly. I must have at least 100 photos that we took. I highly recommend Steve in this tour. We couldn’t believe how many people were in Chicago last weekend all over downtown, Chicago must be a tourist destination. We saw everything Chicago. Thank you thank you! Ralph.
Review provided by Viator
Erik_j
Jul 8, 2025
Do some research on the tour before spending $125 - Most of the tour is centered in Bronzeville, a historically black neighborhood in Chicago. The tour guide did a good job narrating the history of Bronzeville’s contribution to Black American history, including major black music artists and record labels for jazz, blues and rock and roll in Chicago e.g. Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Chess Records, major black churches that produce gospel singers and producers, e.g. Pilgrim Baptist Church, Thomas Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson and other prominent black historical figures such as black suffragist, Ida B. Wells. We also spent some time touring adjacent neighborhoods on the Chicago south side. We were able to view and take pictures of the homes of the Obamas, Louis Farrakhan and Reverend Jesse Jackson. The tour guide, however, showed that he had little regard for black history outside of Chicago, respectfully. As a black man from the American South, the tour guide derisively referred to black Americans during the Great Migration as “slaves.” Although he admitted the he and his family migrated to Chicago during the end of the Great Migration, he obviously didn’t think to correct the historical record that black Americans who arrived in Chicago at the beginning of the Great Migration were not “slaves,” either. The tour overall was informative but it left a lot to be desired.
Review provided by Viator
