The National Public Housing Museum in Chicago has been recognized as one of the top new museums in the United States. Located at 919 S. Ada St., the museum was ranked third on USA Today’s “Best New Museums” list, following the National Medal of Honor Museum in Texas and Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in New Jersey.
Associate Director Tiff Beatty commented on the recognition: “We’re very proud of the accomplishment. To actually have a space where people can come and really see the full vision, and all of the exhibits and stories we’ve been working on with residents and preservationists to pull together to create the museum, it’s definitely been a big year for us.”
USA Today’s expert panel and editors selected ten museums for consideration before opening voting to readers. The public had one month to vote, with each person allowed one vote per day per category.
Since its opening in April, the museum welcomed 15,000 visitors through December, according to C.J. Lind, director of communications.
Storytelling is central to the museum’s mission. Exhibits are shaped by oral histories from public housing residents, which inform both programs and displays. Beatty explained that this approach allows visitors to connect more deeply with the experiences shared.
Former tenants have contributed personal items for display, including members of the Hatch and Turovitz families who also served as advisers during development. Their belongings are featured in recreated units representing life from 1938-1975 as part of Apartment Tours.
Another exhibit titled “History Lessons: Everyday Objects” highlights stories from public housing residents using objects collected over 90 years. Writers Nate Marshall and Audrey Petty facilitated workshops with former tenants as part of this project.
“There’s been a lot of involvement with the families. They’ve come and experienced [the exhibits] themselves, from taking tours and inviting family members to actually hosting family events here at the museum,” Beatty said. “We hosted a 75th birthday party for Anna Hatch, who is the oldest living member of the Hatch family. We want people to feel like this space is theirs. It’s a cultural space, a community space and a family space.”
Looking ahead, staff are preparing for an event on March 29 featuring rapper MURS in partnership with Groundwaves, an organization focused on hip-hop community building. The event aims to provide music, food, activities and opportunities for intergenerational engagement.
“That’s a title that MURS brought forth, and it represents his vision of creating intergenerational experiences and events centering hip-hop and community,” Beatty said. “That was a perfect partnership because we really do want to have robust family programming and make sure that … there is more space for community and for people of all ages to experience the museum.”
