Chicago Bee Building

The Chicago Bee Building is a three-story structure in the Bronzeville District featuring geometric forms and a symmetrical facade that displays Art Deco design elements. Today it houses a public library branch and serves as a community hub for the neighborhood.

The building was constructed in 1926 by entrepreneur Anthony Overton and originally housed the Chicago Bee newspaper, which served the Black community through the 1940s. After the newspaper's decline, the structure found new purposes, eventually becoming a banking facility and later a public library.

The building represents African American entrepreneurship in Chicago, having served as headquarters for financial and beauty companies founded by the Black community. Visitors can see how this structure symbolizes economic independence and achievement within the city's Black history.

The building is easily located in the historic Black Metropolis-Bronzeville district and publicly accessible as it houses an operating library. Visitors should arrive during regular library hours to view the architecture both outside and within.

The building retained its original exterior facade while fully adapting to modern use as a public library. This contrast between preserved historical aesthetics and present-day functionality makes it a rare example of adaptive reuse in the neighborhood.

Location: Illinois

Architects: Z. Erol Smith

Architectural style: Art Deco architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.82804,-87.62618

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:40