Bronzeville Visitors Information Center Tour 411 East 35th Street Chicago

Bronzeville Information Center- ‘Black Metropolis Historic District’

Bronzeville Visitor Information Center - Supreme Life Building 3501 South State Street Chicago

The Bronzeville Visitor Information Center (BVIC), located in the historic Supreme/Liberty Life Building (enter through our Gift Shop, 411 E. 35th Street), is an African American Heritage Tourism attraction and cornerstone in Bronzeville's development as a premier international travel destination. The BVIC is a point of orientation and information for residents, visitors, guests, students, investors and researchers discovering Bronzeville. The 2005 restoration of the landmark located at 3501 S. Martin Luther King Dr. anchors the Gateway to the ‘Black Metropolis Historic District’.

The BVIC houses an exhibit gallery featuring a permanent installation, "Bronzeville to Harlem" by Preston Jackson, a bronze and steel interpretation of the 'Renaissance' periods of both communities during the 1920's and 1930's.  

Ebony Digest

Founder John H. Johnson of Ebony Magazine started his magazine in the offices of the Supreme Building. Ebony Magazine is the one of the oldest African American Magazines and the most successful.

The Original Regal Theatre formerly 4719 South King Drive

"The Chicago Defender reported on February 11, 1928: ...Saturday, February 4th, large crowds began gathering in front of the Regal to welcome the opening of the new million dollar motion-picture and stage show house. At noon, the hour set for the opening, the theater lines stretched south to 48th street and then east for a very long city block to Vincennes Avenue. The downpour of rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the throng that was hell-bent to be among the first to set foot in the luxurious playhouse."--An Autobiography of Black Jazz by Dempsey J. Travis

Roberts Show Lounge

"In August, 1959, Dick Gregory called Roberts Show Club the biggest Negro-owned nightclub in America. All the top Negro acts played Roberts: Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine, Nipsey Russell and Dinah Washington."--An Autobiography of Black Jazz by Dempsey J. Travis

The Ritz

"Jimmy Cooper made enough money out of those games to buy the Ritz Lounge, which was located in the basement of the Ritz Hotel at 409 East Oakwood Boulevard, just twenty-five feet east of South Parkway (now King Drive.) --An Autobiography of Black Jazz by Dempsey J. Travis

The Rhumboogie

"In the spring of 1946 we (Floyd Campbell's Orchestra) at Joe Louis' Rhumboogie Club, 343 East Garfield Boulevard. Several weeks after we opened Sarah Vaughn was brought in at $300 a week. Before Sarah played the Boogie, we got our paychecks on Friday with instructions not to cash them until Monday. The place was barely making it. But Sarah Vaughan packed the place every night. They had to send out for extra chairs to accommodate the patrons. George Threadwell, Sarah's husband, wanted the club managers,Leonard Reed and Pat Brooks, Joe Louis' half brother, to raise Sarah's salary to $800 a week. At first they refused. Then Ziggy Johnson, the show's producer, and I threatened to pull the band out if they didn't agree. They did give her the raise and they doubled the length of her engagement from four to eight weeks. Dave Garroway came to the show every night after he got off the air. It was his radio show that publicized Sarah's great talents. He called her "The Divine Sarah."--An Autobiography of Black Jazz by Dempsey J. Travis

Victory Monument

"The Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art has this to say about the monument:
A white granite shaft topped with a bronze doughboy sculpture. On the monument's shaft are three bronze relief panels depicting life-sized figures. (Victory Panel:) Left full-length profile of a Classically draped African-American female figure representing motherhood. In her hand she holds a branch symbolizing Victory. (Columbia Panel:) Full-length Classically draped female figure with a helmet on her head. In her proper left hand she holds a tablet inscribed with the names of battles in which African-American soldiers fought. (African-American Soldier Panel:) A bare chested African-American soldier of the 370th Infantry, which fought in France, standing with an eagle in left profile in front of him.[3]
In 1927, the State of Illinois erected this monument in the Chicago neighborhood known as "Bronzeville," which was home of the "Fighting Eighth" Regiment of the Illinois National Guard. The names of 137 members of the Eighth Infantry, Illinois National Guard, who lost their lives during World War I are inscribed on a bronze panel. The Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard was reorganized as the 370th U.S. Infantry of the 93rd Division, and this regiment saw service on WWI major battlefields, distinguishing itself as the last regiment pursuing the retreating German forces in the Aisne-Marne region of France, just before the November 11, 1918 Armistice. The doughboy on top of the shaft was added in 1936.[3]"

Supreme Life Building 3501 South King Dr Chicago

The Supreme/Liberty Life Building was the longtime headquarters of the first African American owned and operated insurance company in the northern United States. Founded in 1919 by Frank L. Gillespie (as the Liberty Life Insurance Company), the firm moved, in 1921 into the second floor. The building, originally constructed by the Roosevelt State Bank, was bought by Liberty Life in 1925 and in 1929 merged with two out-of-state firms to form the Supreme Life Insurance Company of America

Bronzeville Visitor Information Center 

411 E 35th St

Chicago, IL 60653

Enter through Gift Shop or parking lot

www.bviconline.info

To Schedule Tours

Call 773-819-2054

11 am - 5 pm


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