Hull House Museum's 'Radical Craft' Exhibition Celebrates Immigrant Heritage in University Village Little Italy
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/University Village Little Italy ·
The Jane Addams Hull House Museum in University Village Little Italy is drawing visitors with its innovative 'Radical Craft' exhibition that celebrates the neighborhood's immigrant artistic traditions. The extensive exhibition, which opened this fall after installation in September, showcases Hull House's rarely exhibited textile collection, hand-bound books from Ellen Gates Starr's bindery, restored paintings by Alice Kellogg Tyler, and ceramics from the historic Hull House Kilns.
Visitors describe the museum experience as "one of the best historic house tours" featuring "innovative displays and exhibits" that provide "a deep dive into craft, history, social justice and Chicago." The exhibition highlights the cultural contributions of the various immigrant communities that shaped University Village Little Italy's rich heritage, connecting the neighborhood's past to contemporary social issues. Located at 800 South Halsted Street, the museum remains a cultural cornerstone of the area, occupying one of only two buildings that remain from the original Hull House complex that once served hundreds of thousands of Chicago immigrants.
Residents and visitors interested in exploring this celebration of the neighborhood's cultural legacy can visit the museum any day except Mondays and Saturdays. Admission remains free with welcomed donations. Community members are encouraged to share their experiences on social media and participate in upcoming workshops featuring local artisans demonstrating traditional techniques that honor the neighborhood's diverse immigrant traditions.
Sources:
1. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g35805-d131635-Reviews-Jane_Addams_Hull_House_Museumo-Chicago_Illinois.html
2. https://nclnet.org/visiting-jane-addams-hull-house-museum-in-chicago-in-april-2025/
3. https://www.historyinthemargins.com/2023/12/05/history-on-display-the-jane-addams-hull-house-museum/