New Exhibit Opens February 2026

Details

Louis Stokes grew up in Cleveland's Outhwaite housing project. Despite the hardships he faced, he and his brother Carl rose to prominence in local and national politics. Louis Stokes became the first Black Ohioan to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1969, and he dedicated his 30 years in office to bettering the lives of people in Northeast Ohio. This exhibit, the first of three, examines Louis Stokes's upbringing through his first decade in public office.

This exhibit is made possible through the generosity of The Milton and Tamar Maltz Foundation.

Highlights