West End Museum Exhibit Traces Political Moves That Led To Neighborhood’s Destruction

The West End Museum is hosting The Housing Act of 1949, a re-configured and updated exhibit that examines the path to the destruction of the Boston’s West End.

It explores Democrat Harry S. Truman’s re-election in the face of a mounting housing demand, which prompted him to put urban renewal on the national agenda and set in motion the final chapter of the old West End’s story. The show comprises graphic panels, photographs, and artifacts.

During Truman’s campaign, he blamed the Republican-dominated Congress for refusing to commit funds to urban renewal during his first term. Following his re-election, Congress returned to Democrat control and earmarked funding for the program. That ultimately led to the demolition of the West End, widely regarded as a dreadful mistake.