Illinois is an ideal cultural vacation destination for the African-American traveler, offering an impressive variety of art, historic and cultural outlets. The state’s rich ethnic heritage has produced museums, theaters, historic sites and neighborhoods just waiting to be discovered.
African-American history and heritage is widely documented, recognized and celebrated throughout the state. From the founding of Chicago by Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable to the Underground Railroad, Civil War, Civil Rights Movement and Great Migration, many significant touchstones in African-American culture have deep, rich and significant roots in Illinois.
A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Gallery
Carter G. Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Architecture Foundation
DuSable Museum of African American History
The Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago
A.A. Burlingame House/Underground Railroad (Sparta, Ill.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, Ill.)
African-American Cultural Museum & Genealogical Society of Illinois (Decatur, Ill.)
The African American Heritage Museum & Black Veterans’ Archive (Aurora, Ill.): 773.329.9936
African American Museum Hall of Fame (Peoria, Ill.)
African American Museum of Southern Illinois (Carbondale, Ill.)
Alton Museum of History & Art (Alton, Ill.)
Booker Washington Community Center (Rockford, Ill.)
Burpee Museum of Natural History (Rockford, Ill.)
Burr Oak Cemetery (Alsip, Ill.)
Center for History (Wheaton, Ill.)
Dana-Thomas House (Springfield, Ill.)
Dr. Richard Eels House/Aboard the Underground Railroad (Quincy, Ill.)
Ethnic Heritage Museum (Rockford, Ill.)
The Gaylord Building (Lockport, Ill.)
General John A. Logan Museum (Murphysboro, Ill.)
Graue Mill and Museum (Oak Brook, Ill.)
Illinois Railway Museum (Union, Ill.)
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (Springfield, Ill.)
Jarrot Mansion (Cahokia, Ill.)
Lewis Lemon Grave Site at Greenwood Cemetery (Rockford, Ill.): 815.962.7522
The Lovejoy Homestead (Princeton, Ill.)
McLean County Museum of History (Bloomington, Ill.)
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian (Evanston, Ill.)
Mother Rudd House/Underground Railroad (Gurnee, Ill.)
Mt. Glenwood Memorial Gardens (Glenwood, Ill.)
New Holmes Center Multi-Purpose Center & Museum (Harvey, Ill.): 708-331-5765
Stephenson County Historical Society (Freeport, Ill.)
Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site (Galena, Ill.)
West Town Museum of Cultural History (Maywood, Ill.)
Fine art and theater have always had a home in Illinois. The state has been a place of creativity – making its own art as well as embracing the art of other areas and cultures.
Akainyah Gallery: 312.654.0333
Black Harvest Film Festival (August)
Harold Washington Library Center
The Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre (MPAACT)
Steele Life Gallery: 773.538.4773
Anderson Japanese Gardens (Rockford, Ill.)
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (Bloomington, Ill.)
The Cultural Arts Division (Evanston, Ill.)
Downtown Danville (Danville, Ill.)
Early American Museum (Mahomet, Ill.)
Eastern Art Arcade (Rolling Meadows, Ill.)
Egyptian Theatre (DeKalb, Ill.)
Fayette County Museum (Vandalia, Ill.)
Illinois Theatre Center (Park Forest, Ill.)
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden (Rockford, Ill.)
Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion (Champaign, Ill.)
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (Urbana, Ill.)
The Orpheum Theatre (Galesburg, Ill.)
Paramount Theatre (Aurora, Ill.)
Peoria Civic Center (Peoria, Ill.)
Check out what else we have to offer on our web site and start planning your 3-Day Getaway now! You can also find lots to do on EnjoyIllinois.com or by calling 1-800-2CONNECT.