The roots of The History Project extend back to 1980, when a group of activists, historians, archivists, and writers was awarded a grant of $300 from the City of Boston to document Boston’s gay and lesbian history in conjunction with the city’s 350th anniversary. In the ensuing years, the group began to compile a slide show on LGBTQ history that was shown at bars, college campuses, and other venues. In 1996, THP received a major boost in visibility when the organization’s exhibition on pre-Stonewall LGBTQ history, Public Faces/Private Lives, opened at the Boston Public Library. The exhibition broke attendance records at the library, drawing approximately 55,000 visitors. Ever since, THP has continued to pursue its mission of documenting, preserving and sharing the history of the Boston area’s LGBTQ community.