Skip to primary menu Skip to main content Skip to footer content

Our mission is to preserve, promote, and propel the right of all people to a place where they can live and prosper—a place to call home.

    History Lessons

    Museum visitors look at a midcentury high school letterman sweater

    Everyday Objects from Public Housing

    Ned Lufrano’s high school basketball sweater. Photo by Joe Nolasco.

    Exhibition

    • Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation Gallery, 1st Floor

    • Free

    “What is an object that tells a story about your life and experiences in public housing?”

    Each object in this exhibition shares the experiences of a specific person—the hopes, delights, heartbreak, and dreams deferred of public housing residents. Alongside the personal objects are labels written by the residents, developed in storytelling and writing workshops. Together, these diverse stories span nearly 90 years of housing history from across the country.

    History Lessons is an ongoing project, and objects regularly rotate as the National Public Housing Museum continues to work with communities across the country to record stories of residents and collect objects. The current iteration highlights the stories of residents from Chicago, New York, and Houston.

    About

    Thanks to writers Audrey Petty, Nate Marshall, and Richard Cahan, who facilitated workshops with residents. 

    Selected objects

    Green water hose hanged on the wall
    Miss Juanita’s Garden Hose
    Classic light aircraft artifact made of metal. The airplane is primarily green with red, white, and blue on the tailpiece.
    Shaq’s Airplane
    Yellow landline telephone centered and taken from above
    Yellow Telephone

    Explore additional objects and stories on our free digital guide, available through Bloomberg Connects.

    Support

    History Lessons was developed with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities special initiative A More Perfect Union: America at 250.  The exhibition also received generous funding from the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation. 

    More exhibitions

    Explore what’s on view
    A map with a red line and silhouetted figures are projected on a wall

    Historic Apartments

    Three recreated apartments at the heart of the National Public Housing Museum showcase the stories of diverse families who lived in the Jane Addams Homes.

    Read more
    A person looks at an album cover while standing in front of shelves full of vinyl records

    REC Room

    Curated by DJ Spinderella, the REC Room celebrates the music that has emerged from public housing. Browse our collection of records, spin your favorites, and learn more about music history.

    Read more

    Taylor Street Memories

    As you walk down Taylor Street, meet one of our founders, Commissioner Deverra Beverly, and learn about the changing neighborhood through the stories of past residents.

    Read more

    Exhibition Resources

    Discover more as a member.
    Join today.