Chicago’s history is often told through the stories of famous men.
From Abraham Lincoln to Barack Obama, many of the city’s most visible monuments and historical markers highlight male leaders.
But the story of Chicago is much bigger than that.
Women across generations helped shape the city’s schools, neighborhoods, culture, and institutions. Many of their contributions rarely appear in textbooks or public monuments.
A new bus tour launching during Women’s History Month aims to change that by bringing these overlooked stories back into the spotlight.
“The Women Who Built Chicago” is a new city tour that highlights the impact of women who helped shape Chicago’s cultural, educational, and civic landscape.
The experience was created through a collaboration between genealogy platform Ancestry, historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, and genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith.
“A lot of times when you look at women through history, you find that a lot of the notable and remarkable things they have done are hidden,” said Sewell-Smith during a media preview of the tour.
The tour highlights several influential women who played a major role in shaping the South Side’s cultural and professional landscape, including:
Margaret Burroughs
In 1961, Margaret Burroughs helped establish one of Chicago’s most important cultural institutions: the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
Burroughs believed history should be accessible to the community. Her work helped ensure that generations of Chicagoans could learn about Black culture, art, and achievements.
Today, the museum continues to welcome visitors from across the country.
“We want you to think of this place not as a keeper of Black history, but as a keeper of American history as seen through a Black lens,” said Shermann “Dilla” Thomas during a media preview of the tour.
Vivian Harsh
Vivian Harsh quietly helped preserve Black history in Chicago long before it became widely recognized.
As a librarian with the Chicago Public Library, Harsh built what became the library’s first Special Negro Collection. The collection included books, documents, and historical materials that preserved the stories of Black communities.
Today, the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection remains one of the most important archives documenting Black life in Chicago.
Mary T. Washington Wylie
Trailblazing accountant Mary T. Washington Wylie broke barriers in the business world.
She became the first Black woman certified public accountant in the United States and later founded her own accounting firm in Chicago.
Washington Wylie helped open doors for Black professionals in finance and business and mentored many young accountants who followed in her footsteps.
Her legacy continues through scholarships, fellowships, and professional development programs named in her honor.
Experience the Bus Tour
The bus tour brings together stories of women who helped shape Chicago, some you may have heard of and others that may be new to you. Public tours will take place in Chicago on March 21, March 22, and March 28 as part of Women’s History Month.
The tour is part of a broader storytelling initiative from Ancestry called “The Stories of US,” which highlights individuals whose contributions helped shape the country over the past 250 years.
Tickets are available for a suggested $2.50 donation, with all proceeds benefiting the TechGYRLS program at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. The program helps young women build confidence with technology and explore future careers in science, engineering, and technology.
Nicole Robinson, president of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and a lifelong Chicagoan, joined the media preview of the tour.
“I’m grateful to Ancestry for doing the research and helping uncover and shine a light on these women,” Robinson said. “I’m also excited that they are investing in future builders.”
Robinson added that participants in the TechGYRLS program will also have an opportunity to experience the tour.
The tour meets at the Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, located at 1801 S. Indiana Ave. You can find more information and reserve tickets at TheWomenWhoBuiltChicago.eventbrite.com.
