Two granite blocks mark the former spot of the Illinois Central Depot, or the Black Ellis Island, where 1000s of southern African Americans arrived to start new lives in Chicago - the Promised Land. Read more.
Maxwell Street was once home to a bustling street market, and a place to hear many of the first great blues musicians, new arrivals from the South who would set up at a street corner and jam. Read more.
You might recognize this mural created for the filming of the original Blue Brothers movie, where Ray’s Music Exchange stood. It remains today as a testament to the blues’ Chicago roots. Read more.
Blues legend Muddy Waters bought this place where Howlin’ Wolf and other musicians used to stay. When it got too hot to play indoors, neighbors were often treated to a jam session on the front porch. Read more.
