It's already a place where African American history lives. But, as Chicago celebrates Black History Month, the Hyde Park museum has become more crucial than ever.
"I think countering the narrative is kind of what DuSable does best. What we do is Black people. We wanted to present out here that this is what Black people have done. This is where we going. This is where we are," said Perry Diggs, with the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
Founded in 1961, DuSable is recognized as the nation's oldest independent museum dedicated to Africa and African American history and culture.
It is home to several exhibits that not only document critical movements, from slavery and beyond, but at a time of heightened societal debates, efforts to combat erasure and revisionism of Black history.
"I think that because of the way that the power of our history, that I feel that it's being erased, purposely being erased, shows that they were more that contributed to the American experiment that we traditionally get," Diggs said.
One example is the "Freedom: Origin and Journey" exhibit, chronicling the thousands of unsung lives given in the name of freedom and equality.
"Equiano.stories" is about a young African believed to be responsible for writing the first slave narrative. The space is one of reflection.
Diggs says DuSable's newest showing, "Paris in Black," is an example of how the Black history museum remains as a vital custodian of American history often omitted from textbooks.
"A lot of 'Paris in Black' talks about the turn of the 20th century. After the end of slavery, you have reconstruction. But that was followed by the nadir period in Black history, which was a terrible time for Black people. Lynchings went up and stereotypes," Diggs said.
Diggs says he hopes that, during Black History Month, people will learn and respect the importance of the contributions people of color have made to America.
During February, the museum has a special Black History Month schedule, and is open every day.