CONTENTS FEATURES RESOURCES CAN’T-MISS CHICAGO SPOTS FROM TIKTOK’S URBAN HISTORIAN Chicago’s @6figga_dilla shares some of his favorite local places for history, food, culture, music, and more. Shermann “Dilla” Thomas When Shermann “Dilla” Thomas started a TikTok account in 2020, he began posting videos of his family and stories about one of his favorite topics — the history of Chicago. Just two years later, Dilla has become known as the city’s unofficial urban historian, sharing fascinating facts about “the greatest city on earth” to more than 90,000 followers as @6figga_dilla. “It’s one thing to see a picture or see a name on a street sign or a building, but it’s not personal,” says Dilla. “Telling the story of how that thing or that person came to be or came to prominence, I think hearing those stories keeps history relevant.” The success of his videos led Dilla to launch Chicago Mahogany Tours , a series of neighborhood bus tours that immerses visitors and locals in the rich history of the city’s south and west sides. “I’m of the belief that if you know the history of a place, you can’t help but respect it,” says Dilla. “History can adjust your perspective. And so many things can be accomplished if you’re moving with the correct perspective.” We asked Dilla to share some of his favorite Chicago spots, from little-known historical sites to can’t-miss neighborhood history. the downtown lakefront while also honoring a really cool Chicagoan. And my kids love it. BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR PIECES OF CHICAGO HISTORY There’s The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in Humboldt Park. It’s a great example of preservation — the building was formerly a horse stable designed by a famous architect. Now it’s being used in a thriving Puerto Rican neighborhood, honoring Puerto Rican history. I also tell people to go to the Victory Monument on 35th and King Drive in Bronzeville. It honors the Black World War I veterans. And you gotta go to the Union Stock Yard Gate . Chicago was formerly the largest meatpacking source in BEST SPOTS FOR NATURE LOVERS In Chinatown, there’s Ping Tom Memorial Park . The architect, Ernie Wong, is a Chicagoan of Asian ancestry. I love that he understands both cultures, and you can see that and feel that there. The two marry each other. You gotta go to Auburn Park in Auburn Gresham. It has an original lagoon from the 1800s. I’m also a very big fan of Maggie Daley Park . I like that it preserves 6 choosechicago.com
Chicago Visitors Guide 2023: Page 6
