South Shore

Why we love it

One of the best parts of the South Shore neighborhood is, well, the shore. The area is home to a pristine stretch of lakefront that includes one of the city’s largest beaches. Wander away from the water and into the neighborhood to discover a wealth of rich cultural offerings and eye-catching architecture.

Explore like a local

• Visit the Stony Island Arts Bank, once a crumbling bank building that’s been transformed into a stunning cultural haven. 
• Bring the kids to the Bronzeville Children’s Museum, the first and only African American children’s museum in the country.
• Be inspired by a show at eta Creative Arts Foundation, a performing arts center that’s been showcasing Black culture through theatre for more than 50 years.
• Visit The Quarry Event Center on Friday nights for their weekly live jazz shows.

Insider tips

Hit the beach: Head to Rainbow Beach Park to get a sense of what South Shore has to offer. The gorgeous outdoor space features two playgrounds, a public beach, a community garden, and jaw-dropping views of the Chicago lakefront and skyline. The beach itself is one of the city’s largest, and has been a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing since the early 1900s.

Get some culture: Just north of Rainbow Beach Park, the South Shore Cultural Center is one of the neighborhood’s crown jewels. Housed in a former country club, the center is nestled on manicured, picnic-worthy grounds that include a nature sanctuary, a butterfly garden, and a nine-hole golf course.

Inside, you’ll find a rich array of cultural programming, a restaurant run by the in-house culinary institute, and a theatre that hosts a variety of community groups like the South Shore Opera. The center was also the site of Barack and Michelle Obama’s wedding reception.

Admire the architecture: Get a glimpse of the area’s unique residential architecture in Jackson Park Highlands. This charming pocket features a hodgepodge of architectural styles and towering mansions. Don’t miss the striking Prairie-style home by Frank Lloyd Wright’s protege John S. Van Bergen (his only design in Chicago) at 7121 S. Paxton Ave.

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