Dreaming of a future for the South Side’s historic Pilgrim Baptist Church

Antoinette Wright, president and executive director of the planned National Museum of Gospel Music, on a tour of the site for the planned museum — the old Pilgrim Baptist Church. | Pat Nabong, Chicago Sun-Times (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

Tumbled-down brick walls, nubs of charred timber — even the cast-iron frame and melted strings from what was once a baby grand piano.

Strolling through the remains of the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church — on the first public tour since the devastating 2006 fire — feels almost like traipsing through Roman ruins.