Ida B. Wells-Barnett House

The Ida B. Wells-Barnett House is a three-story residence in Romanesque Revival style located in Bronzeville, featuring distinctive arched windows and bay projections. The structure was later subdivided into apartments while maintaining its architectural character on King Drive.

A journalist and her husband moved into this residence in 1919 and made it their home for over a decade. During these years, she produced some of her most powerful writings against racial violence and segregation.

This house sheltered a journalist who used her words to fight racial injustice through newspapers and public speaking. Visitors sense the home as a base where she challenged discrimination and inspired others to do the same.

The building is now divided into private apartments and is viewable from the outside but not open for interior visits. Visitors can appreciate the exterior details and architectural style from the street, with nearby museums and cultural centers offering deeper context about the neighborhood and its history.

Few buildings in Chicago bear a direct connection to the early civil rights movement shaped by a Black woman journalist. The house reminds visitors that women's contributions to freedom struggles are often overlooked but remain essential to understanding American history.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1889

Address: 3624 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

GPS coordinates: 41.82971,-87.61751

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:58