Located in the last remaining building of the Jane Addams Homes on Chicago’s Near West Side, 925 S Ada Street / 1322 West Taylor Street, the 48,000-square-foot space that will be our permanent home is the largest artifact in the Museum’s collection. The Jane Addams Homes were named after the Nobel Prize-winning peace activist and social reformer who founded the HullHouse Settlement. Designed by John Holabird, one of the nation’s most respected architects at the time, the Addams complex showcased a new vision for housing poor and working class people in need of homes. The complex was home to tens of thousands of diverse, working-class families for more than six decades. Vacant since 2002, at the urgent requests of public housing residents, the Chicago Housing Authority leadership agreed to save one building from demolition for the new Museum. Exhibitions and programs will be designed to encourage the public to discover, learn and build a more just nation through a robust civic life.

More than any other city, Chicago is at the heart of an international dialogue about public housing’s founding aspirations, its tumultuous history, and its continued promise. Chicago, with some of the largest, most ambitious, and architecturally diverse public housing projects, is a microcosm of the national story of public housing. Chicago is also an international hub for innovation, cutting-edge museums, creative placemaking, civic dialogue, and the ongoing struggle for social justice.

See a list of programs and exhibits planned for the Museum. See detailed plans for one of the Museum's recreated apartments.

As we approach our break ground date, we are quickly closing in on our campaign construction milestone of $14.5 million. We plan to open Fall of 2023, and there is still time for you to partner with us to help open this unique civic and cultural institution that advances housing as a human right. Click here to donate now.

Donor recognition opportunities are a way to celebrate major gifts to the campaign. Those who give $100,000 and more are offered the opportunity to represent their gift through signage in the Museum. For instance, the Everyday Objects space will be named in honor of the $1 million gift from the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation. Gifts of $25,000 and above will be listed individually on the donor wall. Special arrangements may be made for groups who join together to make one gift by contacting Sue Enright, Director of Development at senright@nphm.org or 773-245-1658. Gifts less than $25,000 will be honored with a rolling video projection on a Museum wall.

We anticipate opening our doors in late summer 2023.