National Public Housing Museum, Social housing history museum in Chicago, Illinois.
The National Public Housing Museum occupies the last remaining building from Jane Addams Homes and displays restored apartments with exhibits about daily life there. The spaces document residential conditions and experiences across several decades.
The building opened in 1938 as part of Chicago's first federally funded housing project and housed thousands of families until the 1990s. The complex witnessed major shifts in the city's economy and society over that span.
The museum preserves voices of former residents who share personal stories about neighbors and community bonds they formed. These accounts reveal how people in such housing complexes lived together and supported one another.
The museum is easily accessible downtown and offers visitors a mix of self-guided displays and led tours through the apartments. It helps to check ahead when guides are available to plan the best visit experience.
A third of the museum board is made up of former residents who bring their direct knowledge and shape the institution's direction. Their perspective shapes how the community's story is told and preserved.
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