Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable

The bust of Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable, founder of Chicago

At the entrance of a bridge in the centre of Chicago stands the bust of Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable. His name is little known, and yet this man is considered the founder of the city. The Chicago audio-guided tour stops here to pay tribute to this pioneer of Afro-Caribbean origin, behind the first permanent settlement on the site.

The first non-native settler of Chicago

A trapper and trader of Afro-Caribbean origin, Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable settled at the end of the eighteenth century at the mouth of the Chicago River, where he founded the first permanent settlement on the future site of the city. Considered the founder of Chicago, he long remained little known. His bust, installed in 2009, partly repairs this oversight and honours an essential figure of the metropolis's origins.

What to see

The bust, set at the entrance of the bridge near the river, invites you to stop for a moment to meet the founder of the city. Its location, on the bank of the Chicago River, recalls the importance of the river in the birth of the city. It is a brief but significant stop, shedding light on the often-overlooked origins of Chicago.

Practical information

The bust of Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable lies at the entrance of a bridge over the Chicago River, in the centre of Chicago, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely visible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level, it is discovered during a walk along the river, near the Riverwalk.

Who was Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable?

A trapper and trader of Afro-Caribbean origin, considered the founder of Chicago for establishing the first permanent settlement there at the end of the eighteenth century.

When was the bust installed?

The bust was installed in 2009, at the entrance of a bridge over the Chicago River, to honour the memory of the city's founder.