Preserving Black History
Historic Former Wabash Y
Historical Tours
Our Historical Tours have been paused while we are under construction.
Stay tuned for more info as we continue restoration and preservation projects!
Please reach out to info@trcwabash.org for more information about projects and upcoming events.
Upcoming Event: 2026 Grand Welcoming & Marketplace Launch
Mark your calendars. The Grand Welcoming & Community Marketplace is coming to the Historic Former Wabash YMCA on September 12 — history exhibits, community-owned vendors, and a building rising.
We continue honoring the Wabash Y’s legacy and role in Black history. Grant funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation supported the development of TRC’s first wave of history education exhibits and our future k-12 tour curriculum. Join us to take a walk through history, check out construction progress, and hear more about the future of the Wabash Y.
Find out more about attending, sponsoring, or signing up as a vendor here.
Got questions?
Reach out to marketplace@trcwabash.org.
Past Event: Black History Month 2026
Held this past February in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Negro History Week - conceived by Carter G. Woodson and his peers at the Wabash Y - “These Walls Don’t Talk - People Do” invited neighbors, families, and visitors to reflect, listen, and contribute their voices to a living history of the building and the community it has served.
The event welcomed nearly 150 visitors who brought family photos and documents to add to our collection as we continue to develop our history education curriculum for students grades K-12. Family historians participated in audio and video interviews to document their Wabash Y stories, supported by Free Spirit Media. We look forward to making these interviews available to the public as we begin to roll out exhibits.
As we move through the summer, more opportunities to explore the building and its rich history in the community will be shared on this page, social media, and our e-blasts. Sign up at the bottom of this page to stay tuned!
Do you have a Wabash Y Story? Click here to let us know!
Want to learn more?
Reach out to info@trcwabash.org.
Help Us Keep the Story Going
The story of the historic former Wabash YMCA isn’t finished - and neither is the restoration.
Thanks to generous support from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, we’ve completed the architectural and mechanical drawings that outline what remains to bring this landmark fully back to life. With new plans in hand, we’re preparing to solicit construction bids this spring and take the next big step forward.
Be part of the next chapter. Support the restoration - make a gift here today.
Explore the Wabash Y from Home
TRC was founded in 1992 to restore and preserve the Historic Former Wabash YMCA.
The Historic Former Wabash YMCA was the heart of cultural and economic progress for African Americans in the Bronzeville region of Chicago for over half a century and is hailed as the birthplace of Black History Month.
You can explore this history yourself with this interactive walk-through tour:
A Living Landmark.
We created the "Living Landmark" logo to celebrate the Historic Wabash Y's 110th anniversary of service to African Americans in Chicago.
In this video interview, Dr. Lionel Kimble shares his thoughts on the importance of the many Black community leaders associated with the Wabash Y. These leaders and the thousands of ordinary people who participated in the Wabash Y's programming can teach us valuable lessons as we aim to lift up our communities and fight for justice today.