“The Elijah Muhammad House Museum could open as early as this summer in Kenwood, its owner says.
“Located at 4847 S. Woodlawn Ave., the building was the longtime home of Elijah Muhammad, a leader of the Nation of Islam. Sajdah Wendy Muhammad, an international real estate and business developer who is not related to Elijah Muhammad, purchased the then-abandoned home in 2018 to preserve its history.
“Elijah Muhammad lived in Kenwood from 1952 until his death in 1975. The Nation is a controversial religious organization that originated from the teachings of Wallace Fard Muhammad in the 1930s, which combines elements of Islam with Black nationalist ideas.
“Funding the restoration herself and through private donors, Wendy Muhammad said crews have been able to retain more than 90% of the original architecture, woodwork and ornamental architectural design elements, including the millwork from the 1900s.
“A member of the Nation of Islam since 1990, Wendy Muhammad, who is also a historic preservation consultant, said the years of wear left the home in bad shape. ‘It was literally filled with racoons,’ she said. ‘There were holes in the wall. There (was) lots of water damage. We had a bad roof.’
“The house was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 and is also included in the Kenwood Landmark District. It was also at the center of a short-lived controversy in 2021, when then-4th Ward alderperson Sophia King proposed and then withdrew an ordinance that would require city permission for some cultural exhibits and libraries, including house museums.
“Similar to the Lou Palmer House or Muddy Waters House, the Elijah Muhammad House will be open fortours of the first and second floors. Visitors will also have access to the museum’s archives and recordings in the home’s basement, which once housed a barber shop and dry cleaner. There, Wendy Muhammad said, people will be able to ‘do research and listen and learn.’
“On the first floor of the home, Wendy Muhammad said they are trying to replicate its 1960s look, and are working on acquiring the appropriate lighting, furniture, tables and other accessories. This includes the home’s original dining room table, which his great-grandson is gifting to the museum. (Pharo, Hyde Park Herald, 3/19/25)
We’re applaud Sajdah Wendy Muhammad for her outstanding leadership in restoring the long neglected Elijah Muhammad House, dedication in face of adversity, and her fierce love for this part of Chicago’s cultural heritage. We will continue to support her effort until the Elijah Muhammad House Museum celebrates its grand opening.
Preservation Chicago worked very closely with neighborhood preservation partners and played a key role in supporting the establishment of the Coalition of Black House Museums. Additionally, our petition with nearly 33,000 signatures and other advocacy efforts played a decisive role in publicizing the proposed House Museum Ban ordinance that would have been devastating for emerging house museums like the Elijah Muhammad House Museum, and scores of arts and cultural centers across Chicago.