Jean Baptiste Point du Sable

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable was a pioneering trader and settler considered the first non-Indigenous person to establish a permanent residence in what is now Chicago. Around the late 1700s, he built a homestead along the Chicago River, engaging in fur trading and fostering a community that laid the foundation for the city. Recognized as Chicago's founder, his contributions helped develop the region into a vital economic and cultural hub. His legacy highlights the diverse history of Chicago's early settlement and its importance in American history.