🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
South Side LGBTQ Stories
by Bus
🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️
Tour Description
When people think of Chicago’s LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) neighborhoods, North Side areas, like Northalsted (Boystown) and Andersonville, commonly come to mind first. The city’s South Side, however, had lively LGBTQ activity generations before any North Side neighborhood and frequently shaped culture across the nation. This tour puts a spotlight on the South Loop’s and Bronzeville’s fascinating neighborhood evolutions along with their hidden LGBTQ histories, including the:
“Mother of the Blues” and the “Godfather of House Music,”
Drag ball scene drawing diverse crowds from across the city,
First Black woman playwright to have a show on Broadway,
City’s most notorious former vice districts, and
Birthplace of house music poised to become a Chicago landmark.
Supplementing the experience, attendees can view on their smartphones a hidden webpage referencing historical photos and videos linked to the tour topics discussed. The entire experience takes place on Shermann "Dilla" Thomas’s Chicago Mahogany Tours bus, and it is a really comfortable ride with great views out the windows!
I hope you can join as we celebrate South Side LGBTQ Stories! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Tour Details
Start Time
Public tours are available on the schedule during Pride Month on June 3, 10, and 24 starting at 10:00 am. You can alternatively book this as a private tour anytime you want if you also arrange the transportation for your group.
Duration
120 minutes
Starting Point
The bus picks us up in the southern drive lane for the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (740 E 56th Place) near 57th Street
Ending Point
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (740 E 56th Place)
Parking
Street parking is available nearby on both Cottage Grove Avenue and Payne Drive
Walking Distance
The entire tour takes place on a bus, so no walking is required
Accessibility
The bus is not wheelchair-accessible and requires a few steps to get in and out of it
Price
$45 per ticket
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Among Tripadivsor's top 10% of reviewed experiences
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Runner-up for the Chicago Reader's Best Tour of 2021
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Watch Mike’s discuss some of his unique tours on WGN TV
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WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer: “He is a tour guide’s tour guide.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tour guide?
Mike McMains creates and delivers all Tours With Mike experiences, so you know you are getting a professional, passionate guide.
How do I find Mike?
He will be at the aforementioned starting point wearing a Tours With Mike polo, hat, or some other type of branded attire or accessory.
Do we go inside buildings?
No, the entire tour is on the bus.
Are dogs allowed on the tour?
Since the entire tour is on a bus, dogs are not allowed.
Is there a restroom stop on the tour route?
Tourees are encouraged to stop at the Washington Park public restroom before the tour begins located approximately one block to the southwest of the DuSable Museum on the opposite side of Payne Drive. A restroom stop can be made available during the tour upon request.
Can I buy my ticket in-person immediately before the start of the tour?
Tickets need to be purchased through this website in advance, because capacity is limited.
What is the cancellation/refund policy?
Tickets are fully refundable with at least 48 hours notice. Refund instructions are provided in the confirmation email.
What if it is raining?
The entire tour takes place inside a bus, so you’ll stay dry.
Are there any COVID-19 considerations in-place?
All tours follow guidelines laid out by the State of Illinois’s and City of Chicago’s health departments. Currently masks and proof of vaccination are not required. Your tour guide, Mike, has been fully vaccinated and boosted.
Can I book this as a private tour?
Absolutely! You can book this as a private in-person tour if you arrange your own transportation for your group. There is more information here.