Chicago Bee Building facts for kids
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Chicago Bee Building
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 Location in Chicago
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3647-55 S. State St. Chicago, IL |
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| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Smith, Z. Erol |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| MPS | Black Metropolis TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001090 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1986 |
The Chicago Bee Building is a special historic building located on Chicago's South Side. It was originally home to the Chicago Bee newspaper. This newspaper was very important for the African American community in Chicago. Today, the building is a branch of the Chicago Public Library. It was officially named a Chicago Landmark on September 9, 1998. You can find it in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District within the Douglas area of Chicago, Illinois.
Contents
A Newspaper for the Community
The Chicago Bee newspaper was started by a smart African American businessman named Anthony Overton. He founded the newspaper in 1926. This building showed that Overton believed in the future of the State Street Commercial district. It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the area. It was designed in the popular Art Deco style of the 1920s.
Overton used this building for all his businesses. This included the newspaper and other companies. This lasted until the early 1940s when the newspaper stopped printing. After that, his cosmetics company stayed in the building until the early 1980s.
More Than Just a Newspaper Office
During the 1930s, the Chicago Bee Building was home to more than just the newspaper. It also had offices for the Douglass National Bank. Plus, it housed the Overton Hygienic Company. This company was famous across the country for its cosmetics. The building even had apartments on its upper floors.
From Business to Library
The Overton Hygienic Company closed down in the early 1980s. Then, in the mid-1990s, the City of Chicago bought the building. They decided to give it a new life. It was turned into a branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The Chicago Bee Building is one of nine important buildings in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1986. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site in the United States.
Gallery
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- National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Submission: Black Metropolis Thematic Nomination
