Bronzeville Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1998 (current location since 2008) |
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| Location | 9301 South Stony Island Avenue Chicago, IL 60617 (August 19, 2008–present) 9500 South Western Avenue Evergreen Park, IL 60805 (1998–2008) |
| Type | African American Children's museum |
| Public transit access | Chicago Transit Authority 28, X28, 95E buslines |
The Bronzeville Children's Museum is a special place located in the Calumet Heights area on the South Side of Chicago. It's unique because it's the first and only African American children's museum in the entire United States! The museum first opened its doors in 1998. It later moved to its current home at 9301 South Stony Island Avenue in the Pill Hill neighborhood in 2008.
Museum History
The Bronzeville Children's Museum was started in 1998 by a woman named Peggy Montes. She opened the museum in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Peggy Montes used to be a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. She got the idea to create the museum after going to a big museum meeting. There, she saw many children's museums and realized there was a need for one focused on African American culture.
The museum was first located in a shopping center called Evergreen Plaza. It was a space about 1,275 square feet in size. On August 19, 2000, the museum moved to a much larger location. This new spot was ten times bigger and had three times more exhibits for kids to explore! Companies like Commonwealth Edison and Jewel-Osco helped support the museum's growth.
What the Museum Teaches
The Bronzeville Children's Museum is designed for young visitors, especially those between the ages of 3 and 9. Even though the museum is not directly in the Bronzeville, Chicago neighborhood, it was named after it. The Bronzeville neighborhood is famous in Chicago because it was a place where many African Americans settled.
There are over 100 children's museums across America. However, the Bronzeville Children's Museum is the only one that focuses specifically on African American culture and history. It helps children learn about important people, events, and traditions in a fun and interactive way.
