On Jan. 21, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin joined D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other prominent business and community leaders at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. for the grand opening of the Building Stories exhibition. NAHB’s support of the exhibition is part of a larger national partnership strategy to help draw attention to the value of careers in residential construction.

Building Stories is an immersive space within the museum that promotes the exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books. Building stories is designed to help visitors investigate the role the built environment plays in communities. The exhibition is geared toward an intergenerational audience, with special attention paid to children from kindergarten through third grade and their parents and caregivers.

“We know that career exploration begins at a young age, and children can draw inspiration indirectly from children’s books filled with imaginative stories featuring architecture, construction and design,” said Tobin. “NAHB has a responsibility to help children connect the dots between the built environment, like a residential community, and all the professions in our industry tied to constructing a home.”

The exhibition encourages visitors to interact with familiar children’s books and new favorites through hands-on activities, media installations, reading and sketching. Each visitor will receive a sketchbook for writing, drawing and storytelling with NAHB’s logo prominently displayed. All students enrolled in Title I schools in D.C. will visit the exhibit in the coming year.

NAHB members, executive officers, and HBA and NAHB staff are eligible to receive free general admission to the museum through June 30, 2025.