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Black History Month is an exciting time to journey through the stories of African American icons or trailblazers who have shaped how we live, love, learn and travel. Chicago’s public transit history as a transportation hub comprises tales of courage, innovation, and a quest for equality.

Chicago’s buses, trains and roadways link us to a long line of African American movers and shakers from across the nation, including Garrett A. Morgan, the brilliant mind who gave us the traffic light, and Rosa Parks, the civil rights leader who famously refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Also, let’s not forget our local legends who helped remind us that every seat has a story and every route has a history. Join us in this joyous and enlightening celebration as we honor the legacy and spirit of the African American community that’s helped shape our transit system and our lives.

Transit Trailblazers

These are the stories of people who dared to dream and change the world right here in Chicago. This artwork is inspired by African American transit trailblazers with Chicago ties.

Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison, a Chicago native, made history as the first female African American astronaut to travel in space. Her achievements inspire in the fields of science and space exploration.

  • Landmark: Adler Planetarium often features exhibits on space exploration and astronauts
  • Train: Roosevelt Station (Red, Orange, and Green Lines)
  • Bus: 146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, 130 Museum Campus

Ida B. Wells

A pioneering journalist and civil rights activist, Wells was a prominent figure in the fight against lynching and for women's suffrage. Her work had a significant impact on civil rights movements.

  • Landmark: Ida B. Wells-Barnett House
  • Train: 43rd, 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line Station
  • Bus: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #35 31st/35th bus

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to hold a pilot's license. Her courage and determination broke barriers in aviation and paved the way for future generations of pilots of all races and genders.

  • Landmark: "Letter to Bessie Coleman" is a sculpture that honors the spirit of Bessie Coleman as the first African American woman to fly an airplane.
  • Bus: 39 bus stops at Pershing & Langley

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable

Recognized as the founder of Chicago, DuSable was a Haitian of African and French descent. He established the city's first permanent settlement and is celebrated as a key figure in Chicago's history.

  • Landmark: DuSable Museum of African American History
  • Train: 55th-56th-57th Street Metra Station
  • Bus: 55 Garfield & 4 Cottage Grove buses

Journey through Black History with Ventra

Join Ventra in this celebration. Purchase your Black History Month Signature Ventra Card, and let’s ride together. Hop aboard, weave through Chicago’s neighborhoods and streets and become a part of history. Whether you visit a museum, monument, or historical district, public transit can help you learn countless stories about the inspired past of different landmarks in this city.

DuSable Museum of African American History

A vital cultural beacon, this museum preserves and celebrates the achievements and struggles of African Americans through compelling exhibits and educational programs.

  • Train Station: Garfield Green Line Station, 55th–56th–57th Street Metra Electric Station
  • Bus: #55 Garfield, #4 Cottage Grove
DuSable Museum of African American History
Gerri Oliver's Palm Tavern

Once a vibrant jazz and blues hotspot in Bronzeville (but since demolished), this tavern near the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and 47th Street hosted legendary musicians, serving as a testament to the rich musical heritage of Black Chicago.

  • Train Station: 47th Green Line Station
  • Bus: #47 47th, #3 King Drive
Gerri Oliver's Palm Tavern
The Lorraine Hansberry House

Located in the Woodlawn neighborhood, this is the childhood home of Lorraine Hansberry, the renowned African American playwright and writer best known for her work “A Raisin in the Sun.” Her experiences in this neighborhood influenced her writing and activism.

  • Train Station: King Drive or Cottage Grove Green Line Station
  • Bus: #59 59th/61st, #3 King Drive, #63 63rd, #4 Cottage Grove
The Lorraine Hansberry House
National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum

Located in the Pullman neighborhood, this museum celebrates contributions made by African Americans to America’s labor movement, with a particular emphasis on the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first African American-led labor union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor. (temporarily closed for expansion)

  • Train Station: 107th Street Metra Electric Station
  • Bus: #106 106th, #4 Cottage Grove, #115 Pullman/115th
National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
Oscar Stanton De Priest's House

Located in the Bronzeville neighborhood, this was the home of Oscar Stanton De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress from the North in 1928.

  • Train Station: 47th Green Line Station
  • Bus: #3 King Drive, #47 47th
Oscar Stanton De Priest's House
Olivet Baptist Church

One of Chicago's oldest African American congregations, this church has been a cornerstone of faith and activism, playing a significant role in the civil rights movement.

  • Train Station: 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line station, 27th Street Metra Electric Station
  • Bus: #31 31st, #3 King Drive
Olivet Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church

Known as the birthplace of gospel music, this church is a testament to the profound cultural impact of African American spiritual and musical traditions.

  • Train Station: 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line Station
  • Bus: #4 Cottage Grove, #1 , #3 King Drive, #35 31st/35th
Pilgrim Baptist Church
The South Side Community Art Center

A historic hub for Black artists, this center has been fostering African American art and culture since the 1940s, showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of Black creativity.

  • Train Station: Indiana Green Line Station
  • Bus: #39 Pershing, #29 State
The South Side Community Art Center
Sunset Cafe

This building (now repurposed) was one of Chicago’s earliest jazz venues. It hosted many famous African American musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines.

  • Train Station: 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line Station
  • Bus: #4 Cottage Grove, #35 31st/35th, #3 King Drive
Sunset Cafe
Quinn Chapel AME Church

A beacon of hope and resistance, this church has been at the forefront of social change, providing a platform for African American voices and leadership throughout history.

  • Train Station: Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station
  • Bus: #4 Cottage Grove, #29 State, #21 Cermak
Quinn Chapel AME Church
Unity Hall

This building is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood and was significant as a headquarters and home for African American social and political activities in the early 20th century. It hosted meetings and events for various civil rights organizations.

  • Train Station: 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line Station
  • Bus: #1 Bronzeville/Union Station, #31 31st, #4 Cottage Grove, #X4 Cottage Grove Express
Unity Hall
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