Culture & Entertainment

Visitors and residents alike enjoy the rich history and diverse culture offered in and around Chicago’s southwest side. The museums and cultural venues listed on this page are close by and easily accessible via public transportation or by car. We encourage you to explore all that our area has to offer!

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Opened in 1966, this museum is a repository of publications, cultural artifacts, and arts not only of Lithuania, but also of Lithuanian immigrants to the United States and the generations that followed. Visit the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture web site for more information.

David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art
Located on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park Campus, the Smart Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of over 10,000 objects spanning five millennia of both Western and Eastern civilizations. Visit the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art web site for more information.

DuSable Museum of African American History
This is the first and oldest museum dedicated to the study and conservation of African American history, culture, and art. It was founded in 1961 by Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs, her husband Charles Burroughs, Gerard Lew, and others. Visit the DuSable Museum of African American History web site for more information.

Hyde Park Art Center
Located in the Hyde Park, this is the oldest alternative exhibition space in the city and boasts a long record of education outreach in the community. Visit the Hyde Park Art Center web site for more information.

Oriental Institute Museum
The Oriental Institute Museum is a showcase for the history, art, and archaeology of the ancient Near East. The museum displays objects recovered by Oriental Institute excavations in permanent galleries, as well as rotating special exhibits. Visit the Oriental Institute Museum web site for more information.

National Museum of Mexican Art
This museum features Mexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture. Founded in 1982 by Carlos Tortolero, the museum is the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. The mission of the museum is to display Mexican culture as one sin fronteras (without borders). Visit the National Museum of Mexican Art web site for more information.