‘Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968’ opens Monday, January 15

The Chicago History Museum commemorates Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact in 2018, the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination, with an exhibition that explores his work in Chicago and around the nation.

“King’s work in Chicago illustrated that racism and racialized discrimination were not just southern problems but American ones,” said Joy Bivins, director of curatorial affairs at the Chicago History Museum. “We’re proud to host this exhibition as King’s work in our city, the nation and around the world continues to speak to us today.”

“Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968,” opens on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 15. The exhibition opening coincides with the Museum’s annual family-friendly event that takes place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Museum admission is complimentary for Illinois residents on this day.

The exhibition invites visitors to walk through a winding gallery that features over 25 photographs depicting key moments in Dr. King’s work and the Civil Rights movement, with a special focus on his time in Chicago.

Chicago, like other U.S. cities, erupted in the wake of King’s assassination on April 4, 1968. While the center of his activism was focused on dismantling southern Jim Crow, the systems that kept African Americans oppressed in the American South, he spent time in Chicago and often spoke out on the realities of northern discrimination, particularly around the issues of poverty, education and housing.

A timeline will ring the gallery and punctuate the key moments in King’s life and the Civil Rights movement. Important Chicago moments include two keynote speeches he delivered at Soldier Field, and King’s participation in the Chicago Freedom Movement in 1966 when he moved his family to a west side slum to highlight segregation in Chicago.

As visitors exit the gallery, a reflection space will prompt visitors to reflect on King’s impact and how his work for equality remains relevant today.

Families are invited to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Museum. Visitors can enjoy a production of ‘The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights’ by Writers Theatre and a musical performance by the Chicago Chamber Choir along with storytelling and crafts that reflect Dr. King’s messages of nonviolence and justice. More information on the day’s activities can be found online at chicagohistory.org.

Admission to the exhibition is included with regular Museum admission ($16 adults/ $14 seniors and students, and free for children 12 years of age and younger). The exhibition will run through December 2018. For more information on “Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968” visit chicagohistory.org/exhibitions.

“Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968” is supported by exhibition sponsor Efroymson Family Fund and education sponsor Allstate.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is now at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. As a major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. To share Chicago stories, the Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, images and other items that are relevant to the city’s history. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.