Picture a neighborhood. It was vibrant and diverse. Then, it vanished. That is the story the West End Museum tells.
The West End Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Boston’s West End. It is a neighborhood museum. It focuses on the West End’s culture. The museum collects, preserves, and interprets this history.
In 1989, a plan emerged for a West End Museum. The West Ender Newsletter editors were involved. So were members of the West End Historical Association.
The Old West End Housing Corporation or OWEHC formed in 1991. It was a Community Development Corporation. OWEHC aimed to develop affordable housing. This was for former West End residents. They had been displaced in the 1950s. Urban Renewal programs seized their houses. This happened through eminent domain.
OWEHC helped develop affordable housing at West End Place. It is located at 150 Staniford Street. In 2002, OWEHC received commercial space for its offices. The stipulation was that it would develop a West End Visitor Center.
In 2003, the Bostonian Society made a donation. It relocated its The Last Tenement exhibit to 150 Staniford St. This exhibit portrayed the West End’s plight. It had been displayed in the Old State House. It ran from October 1992 through April 1994. The exhibit laid the foundation for the West End Museum.
In 2010, a committee formed. It included OWEHC members and West End residents. Their goal was to establish a permanent non-profit. It was named The West End Museum, Inc.
The West End Museum has three exhibition areas. It also has an archive. The museum hosts regular programming. This includes gallery openings. Film screenings occur there. Book signings are held. Special guest appearances also happen at the West End Museum.
The permanent exhibit is The Last Tenement. The Bostonian Society designed it in 1992. It relocated to the West End Museum in 2003. It is housed in a dedicated space. This space is 1,100 square feet. A larger temporary exhibition space is available. It is 1,400 square feet. It accommodates three temporary shows each year.
Past shows have included The Middlesex Canal. It also hosted Leaving the River. The Members’ Gallery is adjacent to the administrative offices. It hosts six temporary shows each year. Past shows included West End photographs. These were from the Bostonian Society archives.
Visiting the West End Museum is more than a history lesson. It is a chance to remember. It is a chance to reflect. It shows us the importance of community. The West End Museum is a vital part of Boston. It is a place where history lives.