A building that helped shape the way America remembers Black history will once again become a gathering place for the community.
On Saturday, February 28, the Historic Former Wabash YMCA in Bronzeville will host a free, open-house style event celebrating the 100th anniversary of Negro History Week. This observance was created by historian Carter G. Woodson and it eventually grew into what we now know as Black History Month.
The gathering, organized by The Renaissance Collaborative, invites residents to step inside the landmark at 3763 S. Wabash Ave. from 10 AM to 3 PM. to reflect, share stories, and reconnect with a site deeply woven into the fabric of Black Chicago.
A Building at the Heart of History
Long before it became a historical landmark, the Wabash YMCA was a lifeline for Black Chicagoans during the Great Migration. Built in 1913, the building served as a social, educational, and recreational hub for thousands of residents who were building new lives on the South Side.
The Wabash Y is documented as the place where Carter G. Woodson helped organize the association that launched Negro History Week on February 7, 1926. That effort laid the foundation for a national movement to recognize and preserve Black history at a time when it was largely ignored in schools and public life.
A century later, community members will have a chance to come together to honor the people, memories, and lived experiences that brought the building to life.
The event is being hosted in partnership with the Bronzeville Black Metropolis National Heritage Area and the Bronzeville Historical Society.
Event Details
The community gathering will take place:
- Saturday, February 28, 2026
- 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Historic Former Wabash YMCA, 3763 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago
- Free and open to the public
For more information, visit trcwabash.org.
