A Museum Built on Justice: Rewriting the Story of Public Housing

CHICAGO, IL – November 24, 2025 – In the competitive landscape of cultural attractions, a nomination can serve as a powerful market signal. For the National Public Housing Museum (NPHM), which opened its doors just this past April, a nomination for USA Today's 10BEST Readers' Choice Award for "Best New Museum" is more than just an accolade; it's a national validation of a radically innovative and deeply personal mission. This institution isn't merely showcasing artifacts; it's disrupting the very concept of a museum by transforming a site of complex social history into a dynamic engine for advocacy and empathy.

While tourists and cultural aficionados cast their votes, business leaders and innovators should take note. The NPHM represents a groundbreaking model at the intersection of community activism, adaptive reuse, and purpose-driven enterprise. It offers a compelling case study in how to build a sustainable institution not from a place of abstract history, but from the lived experiences of a community determined not to be forgotten.

From Demolition to Dialogue: The Museum's Unlikely Genesis

The museum’s location is its most powerful artifact. It resides in the last remaining building of the historic Jane Addams Homes, a 1938 Art Deco structure that was once part of Chicago's first wave of public housing. This site witnessed decades of American urban history, from housing a diverse working-class population in its early years to becoming a symbol of concentrated poverty by the 1990s.

The museum’s existence is a direct response to a massive urban disruption. In 2000, Chicago launched its ambitious “Plan for Transformation,” a sweeping, federally-funded initiative to demolish the city's infamous high-rise housing projects and replace them with mixed-income communities. The plan, which resulted in the demolition of over 20,000 units by 2010, displaced thousands of predominantly African American families. While the policy aimed to deconcentrate poverty, it also effectively erased the physical record of entire communities.

It was in this climate of erasure that a powerful innovation took root. Led by public housing residents and leaders like Deverra Beverly, a movement began not just to mourn the loss, but to preserve the story. They fought to save the final Jane Addams Homes building from the wrecking ball, envisioning it as a place to safeguard the memories and histories of the more than 10 million Americans who have called public housing home. After two decades of advocacy and a successful $18 million capital campaign, their vision became a reality. This adaptive reuse project stands as a monumental achievement in community-led preservation, turning a symbol of controversial policy into a beacon of historical reclamation.

Curating Empathy: An Innovative Approach to History

Stepping inside the NPHM is a departure from the traditional, sterile museum experience. The institution’s innovative power lies in its curatorial strategy, which prioritizes personal narrative and sensory immersion over passive observation. This is the “experience economy” applied to social justice.

Instead of roped-off displays, visitors can tour restored apartments that meticulously recreate the lives of residents from different eras, from the 1930s to the 1970s. The exhibits are designed to evoke a sense of presence and humanity. In “The REC Room,” curated by Salt-N-Pepa’s DJ Spinderella, the focus shifts to the cultural contributions of public housing residents, celebrating the creative genius of figures like Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, and Curtis Mayfield who all once lived in public housing. It reframes a narrative of poverty into one of resilience and creativity.

Other installations, like “Care to Look,” elevate everyday objects—a dented mailbox, a medicine cabinet, an old intercom system—into profound artifacts. These items, preserved during the renovation, are not just relics; they are tangible touchstones of the lives lived within these walls. Outside, the “Resilient Hues” art installation, inspired by paint chips salvaged from the building, welcomes visitors with a vibrant testament to the individuality that persisted within a uniform structure. This approach doesn't just tell you about history; it makes you feel the weight and warmth of home, challenging visitors to confront their own preconceptions about public housing and its residents.

A New Cultural Anchor with a Civic Mission

The USA Today 10BEST nomination, which places the NPHM alongside other major new cultural institutions, provides immediate national stature. The awards process, which relies on a panel of experts for nominations and the public for votes, confirms that the museum’s unique mission resonates far beyond Chicago. It has successfully established itself as a significant new cultural anchor, but its ambitions extend far beyond tourism.

The museum explicitly defines itself as a “civic incubator.” This is not a passive archive but an active platform for social change. Through partnerships, educational programs, and community gatherings, it aims to connect the past to the present, inspiring visitors to engage with contemporary issues of housing insecurity and social justice. This model transforms the cultural institution into a strategic asset for civic engagement, creating a space where dialogue about complex policy issues is not only encouraged but required.

This fusion of culture and advocacy represents a forward-thinking business model for the non-profit sector. By grounding its mission in a pressing social issue, the NPHM attracts a diverse coalition of support—from preservationists and social justice advocates to corporate partners interested in meaningful community investment. It proves that an institution can be both a guardian of memory and a catalyst for future action, creating a value proposition that is both culturally rich and civically essential. As cities across the country grapple with affordable housing crises, the NPHM’s work has never been more relevant, offering a powerful reminder that housing policy is ultimately about people.