Muddy Waters’ Chicago Home Moves Closer to Landmark Status

Waters’ great granddaughter, Chandra Cooper, now owns the property and is converting it into The MOJO Muddy Waters House Museum.

Cooper was “elated and happy” that the landmarks commission recognized and is honoring Waters’ musical legacy and history.

“We’re on this great path toward becoming one of Chicago’s landmarks, and we are looking forward to working with the blues community, the city and the alderman on this project to leave a piece of his legacy for the city of Chicago,” she said.

After arriving in Chicago in the 1940s, Waters played parties at night for extra cash and later became a regular performer in local nightclubs. Chess Records released his first hits by 1948, and by the early 1950s his blues band had become one of history’s most acclaimed.

Waters’ Chicago home was a gathering place for musicians, and some — including legends like Chuck Berry and Otis Spann — lived there at one time or another. Waters lived in the home until his wife died in 1973. He then moved to suburban Westmont, living there until his 1983 death.