As a young woman, Jane Addams traveled to London. There she learned about social settlements: community centers dedicated to helping people.
She returned home to Chicago and opened Hull House in 1889. It eventually grew to 13 buildings. Immigrants from diverse places met there to eat, socialize, and learn work skills. Hull House inspired similar community centers in other cities. Addams helped found many organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union. She was the first American woman to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.
