The National Public Housing Museum

In the late 1990s, resident leaders of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) initiated discussions about their desire to create a Museum that would preserve their collective voices and memories. These CHA residents want their children and grandchildren, and the broad public to know more about their history in the American urban experience. They believe that the stories of CHA residents – told in their own words – will resonate strongly with a wide audience across Chicago, the nation, and the world. In light of the ongoing transformation of Chicago’s public housing communities, CHA residents are joined by civic leaders, preservationists, historians, and cultural experts who also want to create a new architectural landmark that will be recognized as an important historic site.