The Archives

Why Does Homeownership Matter? | History Explains the Present
Why Does Homeownership Matter? | History Explains the Present
Discover why homeownership has been one of the most powerful tools for building generational wealth in America—and why unequal access still shapes communities today. Read more...
What Was Redlining? How One Policy Still Shapes America Today
What Was Redlining? How One Policy Still Shapes America Today
Gallery 004 — When a Map Decided Your Future Reading Time: 8 minutesSeries: History Explains the PresentTheme: Housing • Wealth • Opportunity "The map didn't predict the future. It helped... Read more...
Gallery 003: Jim Crow — When "Separate" Was Never Equal
Gallery 003: Jim Crow — When "Separate" Was Never Equal
What were Jim Crow laws, and how did they shape everyday life in America? Explore the history of legalized segregation, the doctrine of "separate but equal," and the generations of... Read more...
Black Codes: How Freedom Came With Fine Print After Emancipation
Black Codes: How Freedom Came With Fine Print After Emancipation
What happened after slavery ended? The Black Codes were among the first laws enacted after emancipation, restricting the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans. Explore how these Reconstruction-era... Read more...
Why History Explains the Present
Why History Explains the Present
History Explains the Present is a museum-inspired educational series exploring how historical events, public policy, and community experiences continue to shape life in America today. Discover the historical context behind... Read more...
What Was Urban Renewal?
What Was Urban Renewal?
Discover how Urban Renewal reshaped American cities and why many Black communities called it "Negro Removal." Explore the history behind displaced neighborhoods, lost businesses, and interrupted generational wealth through historical... Read more...