Grand Boulevard’s Morning Star Baptist Church of Chicago would be designated an official Chicago landmark under a proposal introduced to City Council today.

Located at 3993 S. King Drive and originally built in 1912 as an auto garage, the building was remodeled in 1939 and 1968 to serve the church congregation. The church’s growth paralleled the development of Bronzeville during the Great Migration and served as a gathering place and center of worship for Chicago’s Black community.

With renovations led by pioneering Black architect Walter Thomas Bailey and the architectural firm of Hunter, Konn & Duster and Associates, the building’s design reflects the evolution of 20th century church architecture.

The landmark designation would protect all exterior elevations of the property, as well as historic interior spaces including the nave and entrance vestibule.