Reflecting on North Lawndale's past, and looking towards its future

The Mission of the North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society is to chronicle the historical narrative and educate the community about North Lawndale’s unique cultural assets, its people and its architecture.

Chicago Botanic Gardens Green Youth Farm

Block Club Sign for the residents of 1900 & 2100

North Lawndale residents Ernie and Jean Terrell (center) with her fellow Supremes

Volunteers at Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church

Click on image above for historical and cultrual details

Formally Incorporated in 2010

North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society Milestones

1999 - Small Grants Committee

In 1999, the Small Grants Committee was founded with support by the Steans Family Foundation with the mission to regrant funds to the community. Grantees included North Lawndale Community Newspaper, North Lawndale Employment Network, YMEN, and many others.

2010 - NLHCS

In 2010, the Small Grants Committee transitioned to NLHCS after the success of the Learning From North Lawndale exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

2022 - Website Launch

In 2022, NLHCS launched their official website, which will become the home of our growing digital archive collection for community and public access.

North Lawndale Museum

NLHCS’ ultimate goal is to develop a North Lawndale museum to have a physical space to house our artifacts and assets, and to become an historical hub within the community for education, community engagement and archival depository for the community and city.

North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society

Discover North Lawndale

North Lawndale has been home to Benny Goodman, Golda Meir, Cornelius Coffey, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others. Sign up for tours of North Lawndale to learn more about our history, including

Central Park Theater

Homan Square (Sears Roebuck & Co)

KTown Historic District

Route 66

Reserve a tour!

Since the development of Lawndale and annexation into the City of Chicago in 1869, the community has experienced many changes over time.

Pre-1900

From its inception and in the early development stages, Lawndale was a predominantly Czech and German community, having expanded west from the adjacent Pilsen community.

Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century, Lawndale became home to a large Jewish population that had emigrated from central and eastern Europe, and also expanded west from the adjacent Maxwell Street community. It was during this time that Lawndale’s population peaked at over 120,000 residents.

Beginning in the 1940s

Beginning in the 1940s, Lawndale experienced another communal transition from largely Jewish to largely African American as a result of the 2nd Great Migration. Lawndale became home to many black families that had left the South, predominantly from Arkansas and Mississippi, as well as from the Southside of Chicago. These Blacks were following the dream of new financial wealth and Homeownership on the Westside.